Pearl Jr High School

As a large middle-grades school in PEARL, Mississippi, Pearl Jr High School serves 944 students from grades 6 through 8, run under Pearl Public Schools. Compared to the state average of about 452 students per school, that is 109% bigger than typical.

Across the 5 schools in Pearl Public Schools (4,258 students total), Pearl Jr High School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, Pearl Jr High School records that 43% of students identify as White, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Other groups include 40% Black, 12% Hispanic, 3% multiracial. By comparison, Rankin County as a whole is about 71% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

On the resource side, Staff filings list 72 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 13.1:1 students per teacher. That tracks the state average closely. Roughly 71% of students at Pearl Jr High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Rankin County (around 50%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

Around the school, the surrounding county (Rankin County) reports that median household earnings sit near $79,357, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Pearl Jr High School is one of 34 public schools in Rankin County (combined enrollment of about 22,454 students).

The closest other public school is Pearl Lower Elementary, roughly 0.2 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a commuter-belt area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Pearl Jr High School has grew 3%, going from 913 students in 2018 to 944 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 51% to 43% across the same window. Class-load math has tightened: from 15.5:1 in 2018 to 13.1:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, members of the Pearl Jr High School community share and discuss science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.