School	Guide

Keesler AFB 2018-2019
Compiled by Keesler AFB School Liaison Officer (228) 376-8728

Welcome:

On behalf of the 81TRW/CC, I welcome you to Keesler AFB and the beautiful Gulf Coast of Mississippi. The School Liaison Officer (SLO) serves as the liaison between the installation commander, base agencies, military parents, and schools by providing assistance in matters pertaining to student education. The School Liaison Officer specializes in serving military families and offers a wide spectrum of services, enabling families to become more involved in their child’s educational experience. Services include: supporting families with inbound/outbound school transfers, providing information on local schools and boundaries, assisting with school choice, helping families understand the special education process, making military and community agency referrals, and supporting families with the home schooling process.

School Guide:
This guide contains valuable information on our local public schools, private/parochial schools, and home schools. As your SLO, I remain neutral and strongly support all of our school districts. The data and information provided comes from web pages listed in this guide, and is available to the public. There are approximately 3,500 DoD children attending school along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Resource Web pages:
Below are several web pages that provide information on our school districts:
MS Dept. of Education - www.mde.k12.ms.us		Great Schools - www.greatschools.com School Matters - www.schoolmatters.com	School Diggers - www.schooldiggers.com Military Child - www.militarychild.org		School Quest - www.schoolquest.com Public School Review - www.publicschoolreview.com

Age Requirements:
Students entering Kindergarten must be 5 on or before Sept 1, 2018. Students entering first grade must be 6 on or before Sept 1, 2018.

*Kindergarten is not a mandatory requirement in Mississippi.

Pre-K:
Mississippi does not have a state funded pre-K program. Individual school districts use limited Federal Title 1 funds, private contributions, and local school district funds for these classes. Pre-K programs in our local school districts are limited. Contact your school district for availability and enrollment eligibility. Many parents opt for a private (fee) pre-K program.

Before and After Care:
Before and After Care is available at the Keesler AFB Youth Center (228-377-4116) for the following schools: Jeff Davis Elem, Popp’s Ferry Elem, and Biloxi Upper Elem. After Care pick-up is available for: Biloxi HS & Junior HS, D ’Iberville elementary and Middle school.

Registration Requirements for New Students:
Mississippi Certificate of Immunization Compliance Form 121 (KAFB Med CTR/Health Dept) Certified copy of birth certificate (not a hospital certificate)
Report cards and /or other records of grade placement
Copy of current Individualized Educational Program (IEP) as needed Student’s Social Security Number

Verification of Residency (must provide 2 forms of proper documentation: utility bills, driver’s license listing present address, automobile registration, filed Homestead Exemption application form, mortgage documents or property deed, apartment or home lease.
Keesler’s housing office will provide you 2 proofs of base housing (228-374-5336).

GUARDIANSHIP: Legal guardian must provide a copy of the most recent court order, signed by a judge, appointing them as legal guardian.

HB 879-Allows military parents residing on base school district choice:
Effective 1 July 2013 parents residing on Keesler AFB (Bay Ridge, East Falcon, West Falcon, Thrower Park, and Hwy 57) have the option of enrolling their children in adjacent school districts (Gulfport, Harrison County, Jackson County, and Ocean Springs). Parents must provide copy of base housing lease agreement along with required registration paperwork. Parents must provide transportation to the out-of-district school of choice. School Supt can determine which elementary school child will attend based on enrollment.

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children:
In 2009, the Military Interstate Compact was signed into Mississippi law. The Compact provides for uniform treatment of military children transferring between school districts and states. The Compact has specific articles dealing with: enrollment, immunizations, placement, graduation, and many other areas of importance. Please familiarize yourself with the Interstate Compact at www.mic3.net.

Residency & Enrollment:
It is very important you understand the importance of home residency and school enrollment. Where you live MAY determine where your child will attend school. While several of our districts allow for outside transfers, some do not. There may also be a tuition fee associated with outside transfers. Transferring your child involves an approval process from the losing and gaining schools. You must contact both losing and gaining school districts prior to starting process. In addition, you must provide transportation to the out-of- district school.

Special Education:
Special Education (SPED) is a complex, emotional subject. Communication is the key when dealing with school districts and SPED. I recommend you become familiar with federal and state laws. Federal law information can be found at www.wrightslaw.com
and MS state law at www.mde.k12.ms.us/special-education/special-education-policies- and-procedures. Information ranging from initial evaluations to mediation can be found

here. I am available to assist and prepare parents with their SPED objectives but cannot attend meetings.

Education Scholarship Account:
Mississippi Governor Bryant has signed SB 2695, the Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program. It is a program designed to give those parents with special needs children the option of withdrawing their child from the public school system and receiving a designated amount of funds ($6740.00) to help defray the cost of private school tuition or other specific allowable activities to educate their child. For more information - www.mde.k12.ms.us/ose/ESA.

MS 3rd  Grade Literacy Retention Gate:
In 2013 the MS Governor signed SB 2347. This bill states starting in the 2014/2015 school year; all 3rd graders must pass a reading test to be promoted to the 4th grade. More information can be found at: www.mde.k12.ms.us/ESE.

Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC’s):
Currently, there are 14 counselors working with our military students in all of our surrounding school districts. A parent release form must be signed before a counselor can work with a student. Check with your school to see if one is assigned there.

Base Housing Elementary School Placement (Biloxi School District):

Bay Ridge, East Falcon, West Falcon, TLF-Jeff Davis Elementary school Thrower Park-Popp's Ferry Elementary school

School District Start/Finish Dates:

Biloxi-6 Aug/24 May      Gulfport-8 & 9 Aug/24 May	   Harrison County-7 Aug/24 May    Jackson County-6 Aug/23 May   Long Beach-6 Aug/22 May Ocean Springs-7 Aug/24 May

Biloxi School District:	http://www.biloxischools.net/ District Office: 160 St. Peter Ave.  Biloxi, MS  39530

Enrollment – 6,202
Military-approx. 700 Accountability Status - A Grad rate - 82.3%
Out-of-district transfers - Yes Tuition fee - $500.00/$1200.00
Pre-K is at Nichols Elem. Seating is limited. Call school at 374-7250

(228) 374-1810

Elementary Schools (K-4)
Gorenflo
GorenfloGorenflo
Gorenflo Elem	
771 Elder St. 39530	
436-5145	
 Jeff Davis Elem	340 St. Mary Blvd. 39534	436-5110	
 North bay Elem	1825 Popp’s Ferry Rd. 39532	435-6166	
Popp’s Ferry Elem
	364 Nelson Rd. 39530	436-5135

	
Biloxi Upper Elem (5-6)                                     	1424 Father Ryan Ave 39530   	423-3700	

1424 Father Ryan Ave. 39530	

435-1421	

1424 Father Ryan Ave. 39530		
Biloxi Junior High School (7-8)
	1921 Tribe Dr 39532                    	435-1421	
Biloxi High School (9-12) 
	1845 Tribe Dr 39532	435-6105	

            

	
Gulfport School District:   
http://www.gulfportschools.org/   
       District Office: 2010 15th St., Gulfport MS 39507	
  Enrollment-6,300
Military-approx. 165 Accountability Status - B Grad rate - 88.7%
Out-of-district transfers - Yes Tuition fee-waived for military

  

(228) 865-4600

Elementary Schools (K-5)
Anniston Elem	2314 Jones St. 39507	896-6309
Bayou View Elem	4898 Washington Ave. 39507 865-4625
Central Elem	1043 Pass Rd. 39501	865-4642
Gaston Point Elem	1526 Mills Ave. 39501	865-4656
Pass Road Elem	37 Pass Road, 39501	865-4659
West Elem	4051 15th St. 39501	870-1025
28th  Street Elem	3136 – 46th Ave. 39501	867-2140
Middle Schools (6-8)
Central Middle	1310 42nd Ave. 39501	870-1035
Bayou View Middle	212 43rd  St. 39507	865-4633

Gulfport HS (9-12)	100 Perry St. 39507	896-7525
The Learning Center	1215 Church St. 39507	897-6045
HS GED Program	2507 21st St. 39501	896-4633

Harrison County School District	http://www.harrison.k12.ms.us District Office:  11072 Highway 49, Gulfport, MS 39503	(228) 539-6500
Enrollment - 14,904

Military-approx. 650             Accountability Status - B 
 Grad rate - 85.4%
Out-of-district transfers - Yes Tuition fee-waived for military 

Elementary Schools
Bel Aire Elem Crossroads Elem D’Iberville Elem Harrison Cent Elem Lizana Elem  Lyman Elem
N.Woolmarket Elem Orange Grove Elem Pineville Elem Saucier Elem

10531 Klein Rd. Gulfport, 39503	832-7436
10453 Klein Rd. Gulfport, 39503	832-6711
4540 Brodie Rd. D’Iberville, 39532 392-2803
51 Dedeaux Rd. Gulfport, 39503	832-2701
15341 Lizana School Rd. 39503	832-1592
14222 Old Hwy 49, GP	39503	832-2257
16237 Old Woolmarket Rd. Biloxi, 39532 396-3674
11391 Old Hwy 49, Gulfport, 39503	832-2322
5192 Menge Ave. Pass Christian, 39571 452-4364
24052 1st  St., Saucier, 39574	832-2440

Three Rivers Elem	13500 Three Rivers Rd. Gulfport, 39503  831-5359
W. Wortham Elem	20199 West Wortham Rd. Saucier, 39574 831-1276 Woolmarket Elem	12513 John Lee Rd. Biloxi, 39532	392-5640 River Oaks Elem	14111 Three Rivers Rd, Gulfport, 39503   831-1660

Middle Schools
D’Iberville Mid (5-8)	3320 Warrior Dr. D'Iberville, 39540       392-1746
N Gulfport (7-8)		4715 Illinois Ave. Gulfport, 39503	864-5326/8944 N Woolmarket Mid	16237 Old Woolmarket Rd. Biloxi, 39532	396-3674
W. Wortham Mid	20199 West Wortham Rd. Saucier, 39574 831-1276

High Schools (9-12)
D'Iberville HS	15625 Lamey Bridge Rd. Biloxi, 39532      392-2678
Harrison Central HS	15600 School Rd. Gulfport, 39503	832-2610
Harrison County Vo-Tech		15600 School Rd. Gulfport, 39503	832-6652 West Harrison HS	10399 City Farm Rd. Gulfport, 39503	539-8900
Harrison County Alternative	11072 Hwy. 49, Gulfport, 39503	539-5956 Harrison County Child Develop CTR	94	29th  St. Gulfport, 39501                             863-0583

Jackson County Public School District	http://www.jcsd.k12.ms.us/
District Office:  12210 Colonel Vickery Rd., Vancleave, 39565-5096; (228) 826-1757

Enrollment – 9,242

Military-approx. 250 Accountability Status –B 
Grad rate - 88.1%
Out-of-district transfers - Yes, HB 879-military housing only

Elementary Schools		
Vancleave Lower (K-2)	12602 Hwy 57, Vancleave, 39565	826-5982	
Vancleave Upper (3 -5)	13901 Hwy 57, Vancleave, 39565	826-4581	
St. Martin North (K-3)	16308 LeMoyne Blvd. Biloxi, 39532	392-1387	
St. Martin East (K-3)	7508 Rose Farm Rd. Ocean Springs, 39564	875-3204	
St. Martin Up (4-5)	10910 Yellow Jacket Blvd. Ocean Springs, 39564	818-2849	
E. Central Lower Elem. (K-2)	5621 Hwy 614, Hurley, 39555	588-7060	
E. Central Upper Elem. (3 -5)	5400 Hurley-Wade Rd. Hurley, 39555	588-7019	

Middle Schools (6-8)		
Vancleave Mid	4725 Bulldog Ln. Vancleave 39565	826-5902	
St. Martin Mid	10900 Yellow Jacket Blvd. Ocean Springs, 39564	818-4833	
East Central Mid	5404 Hurley-Wade Rd. Hurley, 39555	588-7009	

High Schools (9-12)		
Vancleave HS	12424 Hwy 57, Vancleave, 39565	826-4701	
St. Martin HS	10800 Yellow Jacket Blvd. Ocean Springs	875-8418	
East Central HS	21700 Slider Rd. Hurley, 39555 -	588-7000	

Long Beach School District	http://www.lbsdk12.com District Office:  19148 Commission Road, Long Beach, MS	
39560, (228) 864-1146	
Enrollment – 3,231
Military-approx. 480 Accountability Status - A 
Grad rate - 87.1%
Out-of-district transfers - Yes Tuition fee-$850.00		
Elementary School	
Quarles Elem. (K-3)	111 Quarles St. 39560	
864-3946	
Reeves Elem. (K-3)	214 St. Augustine Dr. 39560	864-9764	
Harper McCaughan (4-6)	301 Jeff Davis Ave. 39560	863-0478	

Long Beach Middle (7-8)	204 North Cleveland Ave. 3956	
864-3370	

Long Beach HS (9-12)	300 East Old Pass Rd. 39560	
863-6945	
Ocean Springs School District	http://www.ossd.k12.ms.us District Office:  2300 Government Street, Ocean Springs, MS 39501	
(228) 875-7706	
Enrollment – 5,859
Military-approx. 550 Accountability Status - A Grad rate - 88.6%
Out-of-district transfers - Yes, HB 879-military housing only		
Elementary Schools
Magnolia Park Elem (K-3)	3500 Government St. 39564	
875-4263	
Oak Park (K-3)	2230 Government St. 39564	875-5847	
Pecan Park Elem (K-3)	504 Hanley Rd. 39564	875-2851	
OS Upper Elem (4-6)	406 Holcomb Blvd. 39564	875-0333	

Ocean Springs Middle (7-8)	3600 Hanshaw Rd. 39564	
872-6210	

Ocean Springs HS (9-12)	6701 Old Spanish Trail. 39564	
875-0333	
Elizabeth Keys Tech CTR (10-12)	2401 School St. 39564	872-3411	
Alternative Education Center	2318 Government St. 39564	872-0031	

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

There are many private schools located in the Keesler AFB area. This list is not all inclusive.

Biloxi:

Our Lady of Fatima, www.fatimafalcons.org (preK2-6) Cedar Lake Christian Academy, www.cedarlake.net (K-12)
St. Patrick High School, www.stpatrickhighschool.net (7-12) Nativity BVM Academy, www.nativitybvm.org (preK3-6)

Ocean Springs:
St. Alphonsus Catholic School, www.stal.org (preK-6) Grace Baptist Academy, www.graceibc.org (preK3-12) 
St. John's Episcopal, www.stjohnsoceansprings.org (pre-K)
Tree House Montessori Christian School, www.montessorichristianos.com (1-5)

Gulfport:

Hope Academy/ www.hopeacademyfg.org (preK2-6)
Temple Christian Academy/ www.templebaptistgulfport.com (K2-12) St. James Elementary School/ www.stjamesgulfport.com (preK3-6) Christian Collegiate Academy/ www.ccagulfport.org (preK3-12)

Bay St. Louis:
St. Stanislaus College, www.ststan.com (7-12)
Holy Trinity Catholic School, www.holytrinitycatholic.net (preK3-6)
Our Lady Academy/Resurrection Middle/HS, www.ourladyacademy.com (7-12)

D’iberville:
Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School/ www.sacredheartelementary.org (preK3-6)

Long Beach:
Coast Episcopal/ http://school.passchristian.net/coast_episcopal.htm (preK-6)
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary/ www.svdpcatholicschool.org (preK2-6)

Home School Information

Home school students must register by 15 Sept each school year, but parents can transfer children to home school at any time during year.

To register, contact the school attendance officer assigned to the public school that you would have been attending. You are required to fill out a Certificate of Enrollment for each child that will be home schooled. You will receive a Verification of Compliance from attendance officer after you have completed Certificate of Enrollment.

The attendance officers for our area schools are: Crystal McKay - Biloxi/Ocean Springs, (228) 435-7698
Jeanie Cox - D'Iberville schools, Gulfport High, West Harrison High, West Wortham, Lizana Elem, Woolmarket Elem, N. Woolmarket, (228) 865-4426

Alison Pietrangelo - All Gulfport schools (except Gulfport High), Harrison Central High, Bel Aire Elem, Crossroads Elem, Three Rivers Elem, (228) 865-4708

Consuella Williams - Long Beach schools, Pass Christian schools, North Gulfport 7th & 8th, Harrison Central Elem, Orange Grove Elem, Lyman Elem, Saucier Elem, Pineville Elem, (228) 867-6125

Home Schooling Helpful Websites:

MS Home Educators Association - www.mhea.net
Home School Legal Defense Association - www.hslda.org
Coast Christian Home Educators Association - www.homeschool-life.com/ms/cchea

Keesler AFB Triangle Chapel provides their facility to military home schoolers every Tuesday at 9:00 am for learning/extra-curricular activities. This is a great opportunity to meet other Keesler AFB home school families and children.

--North--

--West--	Harrison County	--East--

Jackson County
---------------------------Interstate 10------------------------------------------------------------Interstate 10--------------------

Navy Base	Keesler AFB

	Long Beach	Gulfport	Biloxi	Ocean Springs

---------------------------HWY 90------------------------------------------------------------------HWY 90---------------------------

--South--

Gulf of Mexico

This guide contains current data from the Mississippi Dept. of Education webpage.
This guide will be updated as soon as new data is released.

Guide updated 06/13/2018