Summary:
Appling, Georgia, is home to a single elementary school, North Columbia Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 5 and is part of the highly rated Columbia County school district.
North Columbia Elementary is a standout performer, consistently ranking in the top 5% of all Georgia elementary schools and earning a 5-star rating for three consecutive years. Its greatest strength is mathematics, where proficiency rates are exceptional—84.3% of 3rd graders and 84.2% of 4th graders are proficient, which is roughly 36 and 34 percentage points above state averages, respectively. Science is equally impressive, with 5th graders achieving a 79.4% proficiency rate, a remarkable 35-point lead over the state and an 11-point improvement from the prior year. While English Language Arts scores (from 2024-2025) are still strong—exceeding state averages by 19 to 33 points—they trail the school's own math performance, a pattern worth watching when the 2025-2026 ELA results arrive in December. The school also excels in student engagement, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.8%, far below the district's 12.9% and the state's 17.7%.
With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1 and per-student spending of $15,588, the school is well-resourced to support its 460 students, 30% of whom receive free or reduced lunch. Year-over-year math scores have remained remarkably stable, indicating consistent instructional quality. One minor area to note is a slight dip in 5th grade math proficiency (70.2%) compared to lower grades, a pattern that has persisted for two years and may reflect a transition challenge in upper elementary. Overall, North Columbia Elementary offers a rigorous academic environment with standout math and science programs, strong family engagement, and a supportive learning atmosphere—making it an excellent choice for families in the Appling area.
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