Best Elementary Schools in Collins, MS

Collins, Mississippi is served by two elementary schools—Collins Elementary School (PK–6, 474 students) and Hopewell Elementary School (K–6, 196 students)—both part of the Covington County School District, a 3-star district ranked near the middle of Mississippi, and both schools serve overwhelmingly economically disadvantaged families, with roughly 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Hopewell Elementary School is the clear academic standout. It ranked in the 45th percentile (2 stars) in 2025–26, compared to Collins Elementary School in the 16th percentile (1 star). Hopewell posts higher proficiency averages in ELA, math, and science, has lower chronic absenteeism (18.1% vs. 24.0%), and a lower student-to-teacher ratio (11.9 vs. 15.6). Notably, Hopewell's 3rd grade math (60% proficient) and 6th grade math (62.9%) exceed state averages, and its 5th grade science reached 77% in 2024–25. Collins, by contrast, is below the district average in every tested subject and grade in 2025–26, with 4th grade math at just 18.7% proficiency.

Several patterns stand out. Both schools struggle in 4th grade—math proficiency is 18.7% at Collins and 24.0% at Hopewell, against a 51.5% state average—suggesting a possible transition challenge. Science is a relative strength for both, with Collins near the state average and Hopewell above it. Hopewell's state ranking has declined steadily from the 73rd percentile in 2023–24 to the 45th percentile in 2025–26, a trend worth monitoring. Reducing chronic absenteeism at Collins (24.0%, near the state's 23.9% but well above Hopewell's 18.1%) and addressing the student-to-teacher ratio gap could help close the divide between these two schools.