Enrollment
608
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Biloxi, MS
Popps Ferry Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Popps Ferry Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 280063000063
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Popps Ferry Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #6 of 8
- elementary schools in Biloxi · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- students per teacher
- 74.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Popps Ferry Elementary School has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Popps Ferry Elementary School ranks #6 of 8 elementary schools in Biloxi, MS.
School address
District: Biloxi Public School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280063000063 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.2:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
74.5%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Popps Ferry Elementary School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at Popps Ferry Elementary School
Popps Ferry Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Biloxi, Mississippi, enrolling 608 students.
At 13.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Mississippi median, within a few percentage points of the 13.3:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 74.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 608 puts it in the larger third of Mississippi schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 877 scored Mississippi schools.
Against 149 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #90.
Its student body is led by African American (41%) and White (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 608 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 30.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Biloxi's elementary schools, it stands alongside Creekbend Elementary and Middle (996 students): Popps Ferry Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.2:1 vs 18.1:1).
Biloxi Public School Dist also operates Biloxi High School (1,669 students) and Biloxi Junior High (863 students) alongside Popps Ferry Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Popps Ferry Elementary School compares
Popps Ferry Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.2:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.5% | ▼ 7% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 608 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
608
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
74.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 49% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,135
per pupil, district-wide
- above Mississippi avg of $11,990
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 608 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 40.6%
White 31.4%
Hispanic or Latino 17.1%
Two or More 8.2%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 40.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.0, Popps Ferry Elementary School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Biloxi Public School Dist, which includes Popps Ferry Elementary School.
$12,135
Per student
+1%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.7%
State 31.8%
Federal 30.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Popps Ferry Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biloxi High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Biloxi Junior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Biloxi Upper Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Bay Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Back Bay Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Popps Ferry Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,669
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 863
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 844
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 64/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar elementary schools in Biloxi
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Creekbend Elementary and Middle
Standard public school
996 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Biloxi Upper Elementary
Standard public school
844 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
North Bay Elementary School
Standard public school
658 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
St Martin N Elementary School
Standard public school
537 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Woolmarket Elementary School
Standard public school
533 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Back Bay Elementary School
Standard public school
528 students 12:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~608 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Popps Ferry Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Popps Ferry Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Biloxi Public School Dist's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Popps Ferry Elementary School
How many students attend Popps Ferry Elementary School?
Popps Ferry Elementary School has 608 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Biloxi, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Popps Ferry Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Popps Ferry Elementary School is 13.2:1, which is 1% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 16% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Popps Ferry Elementary School?
74.5% of students at Popps Ferry Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Popps Ferry Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Popps Ferry Elementary School is African American at 40.6% of enrollment, in Biloxi, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Popps Ferry Elementary School?
Popps Ferry Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Popps Ferry Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Biloxi?
By Resource Investment Index, Popps Ferry Elementary School ranks #6 of 8 elementary schools in Biloxi, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Biloxi on the city page.
Is Popps Ferry Elementary School a good school?
Popps Ferry Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Biloxi Public School Dist?
Besides Popps Ferry Elementary School, Biloxi Public School Dist also operates Biloxi High School (1,669 students), Biloxi Junior High (863 students), and Biloxi Upper Elementary (844 students). See the Biloxi Public School Dist district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.