Media Contact
Abi Douglas-Lott, Communications Manager
601.545.3002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2025

PETAL, Miss— The Petal School District has been recognized among the best in Mississippi and the nation in the 2025 Niche rankings, earning an A+ overall grade and placing in the top 2% of school districts nationwide and the top 4% of teachers in the nation.

District-wide highlights include:

• #2 Best School District in Mississippi (out of 137)
• #2 District with the Best Teachers in Mississippi
• #4 Best Places to Teach in Mississippi

Individual campuses also excelled:

• Petal Upper Elementary – #1 Best Public Middle School in Mississippi
• Petal Middle School – #2 Best Public Middle School in Mississippi
• Petal Elementary – #3 Best Public Elementary School in Mississippi

“These rankings are never our goal, but they are a byproduct of the incredible people who make up our district,” said Superintendent Dr. Matt Dillon. “Our teachers, staff, and students consistently give their very best, and that commitment is what keeps Petal successful year after year.”

The rankings are based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, along with test scores, college data, and millions of ratings and reviews from Niche users. 

More information can be found at https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-schools/s/mississippi/
 

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