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Among one of the most important reasons for many families choosing to live in Pearl
is the availability of quality education for their children.
Since obtaining
a municipal charter in 1973 and approval of a school district separate from the
county in 1976, Pearl citizens have voted repeatedly with their pocketbooks to help
Pearl's youth excel by providing resources for Pearl's three elementary schools,
one junior high school, one high school and an alternative education program.
The community's input shows for each school consistently ranks high in academic,
music, fine arts, and athletic achievements. In addition, two of the districts,
six schools, Northside Elementary and Pearl High School, have received the prestigious
"Blue Ribbon" award by the U.S. Department of Education.
About 4,000 students attend the Pearl Public School District. These schools include
Pearl Lower Elementary, which is composed of kindergarten and first grade; Northside
Elementary, which is composed of second and third graders; and, Pearl Upper Elementary,
which is composed of fourth and fifth graders. Each elementary has a full-time counselor
who is instrumental in character building, testing, and general guidance of young
students. Competent teachers believe in a strong academic foundation. Reading is
taught using many different strategies; it is encouraged through a reading enrichment
program. A computer-assisted learning program in the early grades is integral to
the district's goal of preparing its youth for the technological world of the twenty-first
century. Secondary students attend Pearl Junior High, which is composed of sixth
through eighth graders and Pearl High School, which is composed of ninth through
twelfth graders; also, an alternative education program is housed by Educational
Services Center.
Nonetheless, all the technology and upgrades in the world would be of no value
if there were not highly skilled and motivated teachers to share these new tools
and facilities with their students. Fortunately, Pearl not only has excellent teachers--more
than 65 percent of the district's instructional staff has advanced degrees--it rewards
them as well. Each year, a community-sponsored Pearl Educational Foundation for
Excellence awards cash grants to deserving teachers for outstanding and innovative
classroom projects.
Educational opportunities in Pearl do not end at the high school level. For those
interested in higher education, the Rankin campus of Hinds Community College offers
two-year programs in a wide variety of academic and vocational programs for more than 2,000 students.
The curriculum includes 82 course offerings, plus 28 vocational courses offered
at Hinds Community College. Both the Junior and Senior high campuses offer advanced
math and science; 20 honors classes and 6 advanced placement courses are part of
the secondary curriculum. Teachers in grades 6 through 12 stay abreast of current
trends in methodology and assessment. As instructional leaders, they seek to fulfill
the district's mission of preparing students to be contributing members of society.
The overall vision is for each student to achieve at the maximum level, to strive
for excellence, and to gain values that foster good citizenship.
The district's special education program meets the diverse needs of students through
a variety of programs for the gifted, hearing/visually impaired, specific learning
disabilities and developmentally delayed. In addition to helping with expansions, such as a $7 million project that
was launched in 1998 for
renovations and additions to Pearl Public School District, Pearl residents support
their schools by serving as mentors and belonging to a number of auxiliary groups.
Educational Services Center houses Pearl's alternative education program. In a structured
environment of high expectations, students learn to appreciate the rewards of wise
choices and sound decisions. The district's special education program meets the
diverse needs of students through a plethora of programs including gifted, hearing/visually
impaired, specific learning disabilities, and developmentally delayed. The district
also provides assessment and intervention for pre-school children. Because every
child is important in the Pearl community, a niche for each student's individualism
exists, making achievement of each student's personal goals more attainable.
Approximately 4,000 students attend the district's six schools, two of which have
received the prestigious "Blue Ribbon" award by the U.S. Department of Education.
Each campus continues to be enhanced through renovation projects and building additions.
Because Pearl citizens view the schools as the life line of the community, the community
is a source of strength for Pearl Public School District. From serving as mentors
to belonging to numerous auxiliary groups, parents and other community members exhibit
Pirate Pride. Pride results in the students' competitive spirit in academics, extracurricular
and co-curricular activities. In a city maintaining a "small-town atmosphere," Pearl's
children come first. As mirrors each to the other the themes of unity and pride
in excellence, hand in hand the school and community will create the future of each
other.
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