The Tishomingo County School District is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a State Invested Pre-Kindergarten (SIP) grant from the Mississippi Department of Education.

The grant will provide $300,000 over three years to establish Pre-K programs within the district. The remainder of the 2026–2027 school year will be used for planning and preparation, including determining staffing needs, identifying classroom locations, and preparing for the opening of the new program.

The program will serve eligible four-year-old children in Tishomingo County.

“It is our hope to have a Pre-K classroom in each community housed in our current K-4 buildings. There is a lot of planning, preparation, and training that must occur first in order to get everything ready to open classroom doors in August of 2027. We are so excited for this opportunity to establish early childhood learning environments for our communities,” stated Superintendent Christie Holly.

As planning continues, the district will establish procedures for enrollment, staffing, classroom operations, and other program needs. The district will also work to determine anticipated enrollment numbers for each classroom site.

Each Pre-K classroom can serve up to 20 students, with the district hoping to serve approximately 80 students during the 2027–2028 school year.

“As we get staffing into place, the district will work to determine probable enrollment numbers for each classroom site. Each classroom can house up to 20 students. We hope to serve 80 Pre-K students in the 2027–2028 school year in our district,” Holly stated.

Information regarding pre-registration, eligibility, classroom locations, and other procedures will be shared with families and the community as plans are finalized throughout the year.

The Tishomingo County School District looks forward to this opportunity to expand early childhood education and provide additional learning opportunities for children and families throughout the county.