Runnelstown School

As a rural-scale elementary-level community in PETAL, Mississippi, Runnelstown School teaches 173 students from grades K through 5, operated by Perry County School District. Enrollment runs roughly 61% smaller than the state mean of about 446.

Within Perry County School District, which oversees 4 schools and 847 students, Runnelstown School is one campus in the system.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Runnelstown School lists that 79% of the student body identifies as White. Beyond that, the school logs 13% Black, 5% multiracial. That mix tracks the wider county fairly closely.

On the income-and-resources front, The school reports having 17 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 10.0:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 15.9:1, putting Runnelstown School tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 76% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for Perry County put the typical household earns roughly $49,634 per year, 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 17%. In all, Perry County runs 8 public schools (combined enrollment of about 1,433 students), of which Runnelstown School is one.

Petal Elementary 3-4 is the nearest neighboring public school, about 5.6 miles from this campus. Within ten miles, there are 5 other public schools, a sparser pattern than typical urban areas.

Runnelstown School operates from a low-density location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Runnelstown School has decreased 27%, going from 236 students in 2018 to 173 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 13.5:1 in 2018 to 10.0:1 today.

On the community side, members of the Runnelstown School community share and discuss sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.