Summary:
Ball Ground Elementary School is the sole public school serving the city of Ball Ground, Georgia, a single Pre-K through 5th grade campus within the highly rated Cherokee County School District.
This school stands out for its exceptional attendance and steady academic improvement. With a chronic absenteeism rate of just 3.1%—far below the district's 10.2% and the state's 17.7%—students are clearly in class and engaged. That consistency is reflected in the school's rising state ranking, which has climbed from 387th to 269th over the past two years, earning a 4-star rating. The school's strongest subject is science, where 5th graders post proficiency rates of 63.7% and 67.0% over the last two years, outpacing the state by roughly 20 points each year. In math, performance is mixed by grade level: 4th graders excelled at 68.4% proficiency in the most recent year, while 5th graders dipped to 44.1%, matching the state average but trailing the district by 14 points. This volatility between grade levels is worth monitoring, though it may reflect different cohorts rather than a systemic issue.
In English Language Arts, the most recent data (2024-2025) shows a remarkable growth pattern. Only 26% of 3rd graders were proficient, but by 5th grade that figure jumps to 60%—17 points above the state average. This suggests the school's interventions are highly effective at closing early literacy gaps by upper elementary. Serving a moderate-income population (34% free/reduced lunch), the school invests heavily in its students with $15,503 per pupil and a favorable 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio. For parents, this is a school with strong community engagement, clear academic strengths in science and late-elementary growth, and a trajectory that points upward—even if early-grade reading and 5th-grade math remain areas to watch.
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