Summary:
Fairburn, Georgia, is home to 9 schools serving students from elementary through high school within the Fulton County School District, a district ranked in the top quarter of Georgia with a 4-star rating. The city’s schools serve a predominantly high-need population, with 8 of 9 schools reporting 100% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch.
The standout performer is Global Impact Academy, which ranks 49th in the state, boasts a 100% graduation rate, and has the lowest chronic absenteeism among high schools at 11.3%. It also has the lowest economic need (56.47% free/reduced lunch) and outperforms its peers in Algebra I and Biology. Langston Hughes High School is the most improved, jumping from 365th to 181st in state rankings and earning a 3-star rating, though it struggles with a 48.4% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly triple the district average. Bear Creek Middle School is a consistent climber, posting the district’s highest Algebra I proficiency (82.9%) while keeping absenteeism low at 14.5%. In contrast, Creekside High School lags in core subjects, with just 28.8% proficient in Algebra I.
A striking pattern emerges in chronic absenteeism: all four elementary schools and the K-8 charter school fall below the state average (9.0%–12.6%), while traditional high schools far exceed it. E.C. West Elementary School stands out as a quiet success, leading the district in 3rd-grade math (55.7%) and maintaining 3-star status. However, Campbell Elementary School spends the most per student ($19,089) yet posts among the lowest scores, while Renaissance Middle School and Bear Creek excel in advanced Physical Science (74.5% and 76.7% proficiency). Chattahoochee Hills Charter School has the best attendance (9.0%) but struggles academically, particularly in middle school math. Overall, Fairburn shows that school model and culture—not just spending—drive outcomes, with Global Impact and Bear Creek proving that high achievement is possible despite economic challenges.
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