Making education a priority has been a tradition in Bolivar County for more than a century. In fact, Bolivar County, Mississippi had one of the first consolidated school systems in the nation. Today there are six consolidated school districts in the County, with programs that are considered to be some of the strongest and most progressive among public school systems in the region.

One such example is Hayes Cooper Center for Math, Science and Technology, a K-6 magnet school in Merigold that is a break-the-mold, state-of-the-art school with an accelerated academic program. In 1998-1999, it was one of only seven Mississippi schools recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Two parochial schools and one private academy with excellent academic and athletic programs are also located in the County.