Total enrollment
10,318
-199 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
Lamar County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Lamar County is a Mississippi county whose public-school system spans 17 campuses and approximately 10,318 students. Median household income runs about $70,909. By grade band, the county runs 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools.
7-year change in Lamar County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
57%
was 65%
% Hispanic
7%
was 4%
% Black
30%
was 27%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
65,713
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
17
1 districts
Enrollment
10,318
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$70,909
Above Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
55.1%
Below Mississippi avg
Elementary
8
4,979 students
Middle
3
2,091 students
High
5
3,248 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Lamar County School District
10,318 students · 1 district in Lamar County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lamar County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
34.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.8%
civilian labor
Median age
38
24.3% under 18
Test scores in Lamar County
Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Sumrall High School· 74.0%
- Sumrall Elementary School· 71.8%
- Longleaf Elementary· 69.6%
- Oak Grove High School· 68.5%
- Bellevue Elementary· 63.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Lumberton High School· 32.2%
- Lumberton Elementary School· 44.5%
- Purvis Middle School· 46.7%
- Purvis Lower Elementary· 47.3%
- Purvis Upper Elementary· 50.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Grove High School | Hattiesburg | High | 09-13 | 1,750 | · |
| Oak Grove Middle School | Hattiesburg | Middle | 06-08 | 1,160 | · |
| Bellevue Elementary | Hattiesburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 1,145 | · |
| Sumrall Elementary School | Sumrall | Elementary | PK-05 | 960 | · |
| Longleaf Elementary | Hattiesburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 787 | · |
| Oak Grove Elementary | Hattiesburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 758 | · |
| Sumrall High School | Sumrall | High | 09-13 | 616 | · |
| Purvis High School | Purvis | High | 09-13 | 614 | · |
| Sumrall Middle School | Sumrall | Middle | 06-08 | 484 | · |
| Purvis Lower Elementary | Purvis | Elementary | PK-02 | 448 | · |
| Purvis Middle School | Purvis | Middle | 06-08 | 447 | · |
| Purvis Upper Elementary | Purvis | Elementary | 03-05 | 377 | · |
| Lumberton Elementary School | Lumberton | Elementary | PK-06 | 287 | · |
| Lumberton High School | Lumberton | High | 07-12 | 268 | · |
| Baxterville School | Lumberton | Elementary | PK-08 | 217 | · |
| JEFFERSON/TODD ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM | Purvis | Combined | 05-12 | 0 | · |
| LAMAR CO VOC TECH CENTER | Purvis | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Lamar County
About Lamar County
Lamar County is an average-sized county of about 65,713 residents in Mississippi. Its public-school system hosts approximately 10,318 students across 17 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $70,909, 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 42% higher than the Mississippi median.
On the school-mix side, Lamar County consists of 8 elementary schools (4,979 students), 3 middle schools (2,091), 5 high schools (3,248), and 1 combined or other schools.
Lamar County School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 10,318 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 10,318 students, stayed largely flat from the 10,517 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Lamar County closed 1 school, going from 16 to 15. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 65% to 57%.
On this page, the community for Lamar County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Lamar County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data