Summary:
Bethlehem Elementary School is the sole public school serving the city of Bethlehem, Georgia, a small community within the Barrow County school district, and it educates students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade with a total enrollment of 641 students.
For parents considering this school, the standout feature is mathematics. Bethlehem Elementary outperforms both the district and state averages in every grade level tested. For example, 3rd graders post a 55.7% math proficiency rate compared to 48.3% statewide, and 5th graders reach 51.8% versus 44.1% statewide. The school has also improved its state ranking over three years, climbing from the 51st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 58th percentile in 2025-2026. Another major positive is attendance: only 10.9% of students are chronically absent, which is dramatically lower than the district’s 17.0% and the state’s 17.7% averages. This is especially notable given that over 61% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a demographic factor often linked to higher absenteeism. The school also benefits from a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.9:1 and per-student spending of $16,274, suggesting strong resource allocation.
However, there are areas of concern. Science proficiency in 5th grade is a significant weakness, with only 27.2% of students meeting standards compared to 44.2% statewide—a 17-point gap that has also declined from the prior year. English Language Arts (ELA) results from the most recent available year (2024-2025) show a mixed picture: 3rd and 4th graders trail state averages (29.5% and 28.7% vs. 34.9% and 39.3%), while 5th graders slightly exceed the state at 44.2% vs. 43.0%. Note that current-year ELA scores have not yet been released and will arrive in December. Overall, this school offers strong math instruction, excellent attendance, and improving rankings, but families should watch for targeted improvements in science and lower-grade literacy.
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