Summary:
Zip code 39428 is home to 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, which ranks 68th out of 134 Mississippi districts. These schools serve a high-poverty area, with more than 98% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and the district has a chronic absenteeism rate of 33.6%.
Hopewell is the clear standout in this zip code. It ranks 208th in the state (45th percentile) compared to Collins' 316th (16th percentile), and it earns 2 stars to Collins' 1 star. Hopewell also posts stronger test scores in nearly every subject and grade level. For example, in 2025-2026, Hopewell's average MAAP proficiency was 44.5% in English Language Arts and 44.7% in math, versus Collins' 33.1% and 31.8%. Hopewell also has lower chronic absenteeism (18.1% vs. 24.0%) and a lower student-teacher ratio (11.9 vs. 15.6). These advantages exist despite nearly identical poverty levels, which suggests that school size, attendance, and class sizes may be making a real difference.
Collins, the larger school, faces serious challenges, especially in 4th grade math, where proficiency was just 18.7% in 2025-2026 compared to the state average of 51.5%. However, there are bright spots: Collins outperformed Hopewell in 5th grade ELA and math in 2025-2026, and both schools show strong science scores. Hopewell also excels in 3rd and 6th grade instruction, with 3rd grade math at 60% and 6th grade math at 62.9%. Hopewell's ranking has declined over three years from 104th to 208th, even though its test scores remain competitive, suggesting statewide improvement rather than a loss of quality. For parents, Hopewell appears to offer the stronger academic environment, but both schools are below state averages in most core subjects and would benefit from targeted interventions, particularly in 4th grade math.
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