Summary:
The city of Lumpkin, Georgia, is served by the Stewart County School District, which operates three small schools—Stewart County Elementary School (PK-5), Stewart County Middle School (6-8), and Stewart County High School (9-12)—with a combined enrollment of just 338 students in a rural, high-poverty area.
The standout in this district is Stewart County Elementary School, which has shown a dramatic turnaround. Its state ranking jumped from the 25th to the 53rd percentile in one year, and its 3rd grade math proficiency rate of 78.9% is more than 30 points above the state average. The school also boasts an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of 2.4% and a favorable 8.4:1 student-teacher ratio. However, performance drops sharply in later grades: 5th grade math proficiency is just 26.1%, and Stewart County Middle School struggles significantly, with 8th grade science and social studies both at 0% proficiency. In contrast, Stewart County High School posts a perfect 100% graduation rate, though its End of Course exam proficiency rates (25% in Algebra I, 27.5% in Biology) remain well below state averages.
Across the district, a clear pattern emerges: early academic gains are not sustained as students advance. The middle school's ranking has fallen to the 9th percentile, and its math proficiency rates range from just 11.1% to 25.9%. All three schools benefit from high per-student spending ($21,954 to $31,132) and low chronic absenteeism compared to the state average of 17.7%, yet these advantages have not translated into consistent achievement. With such small cohorts—82 to 142 students per school—year-to-year swings can be volatile, so parents should view single-year changes cautiously. The elementary school's recent improvement is the most encouraging sign, but the district as a whole faces significant challenges in maintaining progress through middle and high school.
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