Summary:
Perkinston, Mississippi is served by a single public elementary school — Perkinston Elementary School — which enrolls 503 students in grades K–5 as part of the Stone County School District. With just one school in town, all local attention centers on this 4-star campus, ranked #67 out of 377 schools statewide in 2025–2026 (82nd percentile) and operating in a district ranked #14 of 134 in Mississippi.
Perkinston Elementary consistently outperforms the state average across nearly every subject and grade. In the 2025–2026 school year, 5th grade science proficiency reached 82.9% compared to the state's 71.5%, while 4th grade math hit 78% proficiency — 26.5 points above the state. Upper-grade ELA is also a bright spot, with 72% of 5th graders proficient. The school also outpaces state chronic absenteeism rates (20.6% vs. 23.9%) despite serving a student body where over 60% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Its statewide ranking has improved from the 72nd percentile in 2023–2024 to the low-to-mid 80s in the past two years.
However, the district is a tougher benchmark than the state. While the school's average ELA proficiency (63.6%) edges out the district (61.1%), its average math proficiency (63.9%) falls just behind the district (64.9%). Math is also volatile: 5th grade math dropped from 76.4% to 57.3% year-over-year, and 3rd grade math fell to 56.5%, trailing the district by nearly 14 points. Meanwhile, 4th grade math jumped to 78%. These swings likely reflect different student cohorts. Science remains the school's greatest strength, with a double-digit advantage over the state in both years. Overall, this is a high-performing school in a strong district, with excellent science instruction, solid reading growth by 5th grade, and strong results despite high economic need.
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