Rankin County Early Learning Collaborative


The Rankin County Early Learning Collaborative has thirteen sites: Flowood Elementary School, Highland Bluff Elementary School, Northshore Elementary School, Northwest Rankin Elementary School, Oakdale Elementary School, Rouse Elementary School, Steen’s Creek Elementary School, McCall Head Start, and St. James Head Start. It has served 160 four-year-olds since its founding in 2022.

Number of Classrooms in ELC

13

Students Served in 2022-2023

160

Number of Sites in ELC

9

“A true working partnership has been established between our local Head Start centers and our public schools. Our two entities now work together as a cohesive team. We have also worked with the local childcare providers in the county to share resources, professional development opportunities, and learning on how to incorporate the standards with early learners.”

— Pamela Reed-Simon, Director of Pre-K

Do you have a four-year-old
in Rankin County?

Enroll them in the Rankin County Early Learning Collaborative.

Want to receive an individual
tax credit?

Learn how to get a tax credit and support the
Rankin County Early Learning Collaborative.



About Early Learning Collaboratives

Early learning collaboratives (ELCs) are comprised of school districts, local Head Starts, child care centers, and/or private or parochial schools. Collaboratives offer a high-quality, low- or no-cost pre-K option to families in Mississippi. ELCs are funded through state funds and local matching funds and are overseen by the Mississippi Department of Education.

Learn more about how we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ELCs.

We know that kids who attend high-quality pre-K:

Enter kindergarten with stronger literacy, language, math, and social-emotional skills

Are less likely to need special education services, less likely to repeat grades, and more likely to graduate and enroll in college

See stronger employment opportunities and increased earning potential

Are less likely to commit juvenile and adult crimes