Best Public Schools in Austell, GA

There are six public schools serving the Austell, Georgia area—three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school—all part of the Cobb County School District, which serves a predominantly low-income population with free/reduced lunch rates between 90% and 100%.

Cooper Middle School is the standout performer in Austell, ranking in the 70th percentile statewide and achieving a perfect 100% proficiency on the Algebra I End-of-Course exam for two consecutive years—far exceeding district and state averages. It also leads the area in 8th-grade Science and Social Studies, and posts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (14.4%) among all six schools. South Cobb High School shows positive momentum, improving to the 61st percentile with a graduation rate slightly above the state average, though its chronic absenteeism rate of 26.9% is a significant concern. Garrett Middle School ranks lowest among the middle schools at the 37th percentile, but shows a bright spot with 95.4% proficiency in Algebra I. Among the elementary schools, Clarkdale Elementary leads at the 51st percentile, followed by Sanders Elementary (38th) and Austell Elementary (34th).

A striking finding is the inverse relationship between spending and performance at the elementary level: Austell Elementary spends the most per student ($21,767) yet ranks lowest, while Clarkdale spends over $3,000 less and ranks 17 percentile points higher. Both middle schools excel in advanced math and science despite serving highly economically disadvantaged populations, suggesting strong acceleration programs. However, chronic absenteeism affects four of six schools, with South Cobb High nearly double the state rate. Austell Elementary also experienced an 18-point ranking drop year-over-year, though some of its math scores actually improved, suggesting broader statewide shifts may be at play. Overall, Cooper Middle demonstrates that high-poverty schools can achieve top-quartile results, while the area's elementary schools and Garrett Middle face more significant challenges.