Jones County Schools & Education
Jones County, Mississippi
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
24/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.1%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,656
National avg $13,239
State avg $5,954
School Score
24/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 27/100
State Score Position
#44
of 81 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Jones County
Measured School Summary
Jones County faces educational challenges with a school score of 24/100 and a graduation rate of 88.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $5,656 per pupil, Jones County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 10% below the Mississippi average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Jones County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
19 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
24/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #44 of 81 Mississippi counties with school score data.
Completion
88.4%
1.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,656
$298 below the state average
School coverage
19
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Jones County has 19 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Jones County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Review-carefully county
Jones County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#44
of 81 Mississippi counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Elementary and high visible
8,524 students
11 listed schools in this county slice.
LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Elementary to high school visible
2,712 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST is the largest listed district slice, with 11 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Jones County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Jones County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Jones County, Mississippi
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Robust Network of Nineteen Public Schools
Jones County supports 11,236 students across two distinct school districts. The infrastructure includes 10 elementary schools, one middle school, and six high schools to serve the growing population.
Graduation Rates Outpace State and National Averages
The county boasts an 88.4% graduation rate, exceeding both the Mississippi average of 87.1% and the national benchmark of 87.0%. Despite this success, per-pupil spending of $5,656 remains below the state average of $5,954.
Jones County School District Leads the Region
The Jones County School District is the largest provider, educating 8,524 students across 11 schools. The Laurel School District operates an additional eight schools serving 2,712 students, and there are currently no charter schools in the county.
Large Schools with a Balanced Locale Mix
The area features 10 town-based and nine rural schools, with an average enrollment of 749 students. West Jones High School is the largest campus with 1,516 students, offering a significant contrast to smaller local facilities.
School Overview
Total Schools
19
in Jones County
Reported Enrollment
11,236
19 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Jones County
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
GuideLAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
19 Public Schools in Jones County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 5 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 19 of 19 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEST JONES HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Laurel, 39443Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 1,516 |
| SOUTH JONES HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Ellisville, 39437Town: Distant | 7–12 | High | 1,306 |
| SOUTH JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Profile | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Ellisville, 39437Town: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 1,070 |
| WEST JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Profile | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Laurel, 39443Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 1,022 |
| NORTHEAST JONES HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Laurel, 39443Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 988 |
| NORTH JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Laurel, 39443Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 859 |
| EAST JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Laurel, 39443Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 772 |
| LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL | Record | LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LAUREL, 39440Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 708 |
| MOSELLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Moselle, 39459Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 561 |
| LAUREL MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Laurel, 39440Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 555 |
| OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LAUREL, 39440Rural: Fringe | PK–3 | Primary | 480 |
| GLADE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Laurel, 39440Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 430 |
| MASON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LAUREL, 39440Town: Distant | PK–3 | Primary | 345 |
| LAUREL MAGNET SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | Record | LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LAUREL, 39440Town: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 329 |
| LAUREL UPPER ELEMENTARY | Record | LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Laurel, 39440Town: Distant | 4–5 | Primary | 295 |
| JONES CO CAREER & TECH ED CENTER | Record | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Laurel, 39440Town: Distant | 7–12 | Vocational | 0 |
| JONES COUNTY LEARNING CENTER | Record | JONES CO SCHOOL DIST | Laurel, 39441Rural: Fringe | 3–12 | Alternative | 0 |
| LAUREL EDUCATION CENTER | Record | LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LAUREL, 39440Town: Distant | 4–12 | Alternative | 0 |
| LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL VOC COMPLEX | Record | LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LAUREL, 39440Town: Distant | 9–12 | Vocational | 0 |
WEST JONES HIGH SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Laurel, 39443 / Rural: Distant
SOUTH JONES HIGH SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Ellisville, 39437 / Town: Distant
SOUTH JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Ellisville, 39437 / Town: Distant
WEST JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Laurel, 39443 / Rural: Distant
NORTHEAST JONES HIGH SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Laurel, 39443 / Rural: Distant
NORTH JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Laurel, 39443 / Rural: Fringe
EAST JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Laurel, 39443 / Rural: Distant
MOSELLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Moselle, 39459 / Rural: Distant
OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
LAUREL, 39440 / Rural: Fringe
GLADE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Laurel, 39440 / Rural: Fringe
MASON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
LAUREL, 39440 / Town: Distant
LAUREL MAGNET SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
LAUREL, 39440 / Town: Distant
LAUREL UPPER ELEMENTARY
LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Laurel, 39440 / Town: Distant
JONES CO CAREER & TECH ED CENTER
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Laurel, 39440 / Town: Distant
JONES COUNTY LEARNING CENTER
JONES CO SCHOOL DIST
Laurel, 39441 / Rural: Fringe
LAUREL EDUCATION CENTER
LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
LAUREL, 39440 / Town: Distant
LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL VOC COMPLEX
LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
LAUREL, 39440 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,656
State avg $5,954
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Jones County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Mississippi counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Mississippi?
How should I read the school score in Jones County?
What is the graduation rate in Jones County?
How much does Jones County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Jones County, Mississippi — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Jones County, Mississippi?
Jones County supports 11,236 students across two distinct school districts. The infrastructure includes 10 elementary schools, one middle school, and six high schools to serve the growing population.
How do schools in Jones County perform academically?
The county boasts an 88.4% graduation rate, exceeding both the Mississippi average of 87.1% and the national benchmark of 87.0%. Despite this success, per-pupil spending of $5,656 remains below the state average of $5,954.
What are the major school districts in Jones County, Mississippi?
The Jones County School District is the largest provider, educating 8,524 students across 11 schools. The Laurel School District operates an additional eight schools serving 2,712 students, and there are currently no charter schools in the county.
What is the school experience like in Jones County?
The area features 10 town-based and nine rural schools, with an average enrollment of 749 students. West Jones High School is the largest campus with 1,516 students, offering a significant contrast to smaller local facilities.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.