For the 2026 school year, there are 14 public preschools serving 7,331 students in Forrest County, MS.
The top-ranked public preschools in Forrest County, MS are Longleaf Elementary School, Dixie Attendance Center and Bellevue Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Forrest County, MS public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the Mississippi public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 44% statewide average). Pre schools in Forrest County have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of Mississippi public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public preschool average of 57% (majority Black).
Best Public Preschools in Forrest County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Longleaf Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5279 W. 4th Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 261-6892
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 261-6892
Gr: PK-5 | 787 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #22.
Dixie Attendance Center
(Math: 61% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
790 Elks Lake Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-4890
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-4890
Gr: PK-8 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #33.
Bellevue Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1760 Old Highway 24
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Gr: PK-5 | 1,145 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #44.
North Forrest Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
702 Eatonville Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6466
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6466
Gr: PK-6 | 209 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #55.
Woodley Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2006 O Ferrell St
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-8112
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-8112
Gr: PK-5 | 422 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #66.
Grace Christian Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2207 W 7th Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0662
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0662
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #77.
Rowan Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
500 Martin Luther King Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Gr: PK-5 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
Rank: #88.
South Forrest Attendance Center
(Math: 59% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8 Burborne Street
Brooklyn, MS 39425
(601) 545-7714
Brooklyn, MS 39425
(601) 545-7714
Gr: PK-8 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #99.
Rawls Springs Attendance Center
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
10 Archie Smith Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 268-2217
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 268-2217
Gr: PK-6 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1010.
Hawkins Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
901 Ida Ave.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Gr: PK-5 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1111.
Thames Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2900 Jamestown Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 582-6655
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 582-6655
Gr: PK-5 | 619 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1212.
Earl Travillion Attendance Center
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
316 Travillion Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-9303
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-9303
Gr: PK-8 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: n/an/a
70 Leaf Lane
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-9764
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-9764
Gr: PK-5 | 758 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: n/an/a
60 Herrington Road
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Gr: PK-2 | 1,016 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public preschools in Forrest County, MS?
The top-ranked public preschools in Forrest County, MS include Longleaf Elementary School, Dixie Attendance Center and Bellevue Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Forrest County?
13 public preschools are located in Forrest County.
What is the racial composition of students in Forrest County?
Forrest County public preschools minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public preschools average of 57% (majority Black).
Which public preschools in Forrest County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Forrest County include: Oak Grove Elementary School vs. Longleaf Elementary School, Hawkins Elementary School vs. Grace Christian Elementary School, Grace Christian Elementary School vs. Hawkins Elementary School
Recent Articles
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.
