Summary:
Pooler, Georgia is served by two elementary schools—West Chatham Elementary School and Pooler Elementary School—both part of the Savannah-Chatham County district and both serving Pre-K through 5th grade students in a growing suburban area near Savannah.
West Chatham Elementary is the larger school (796 students) and the stronger academic performer. It ranks 660th in Georgia (46th percentile) and has improved dramatically, jumping over 200 spots in one year. In 2025-2026, West Chatham posted proficiency rates of 40.4% in 3rd grade math, 39.5% in 4th grade math, 39.0% in 5th grade math, and 40.0% in 5th grade science—all above district averages and showing strong year-over-year gains, especially in science (+9.6 points). Pooler Elementary (340 students) ranks lower at 868th (29th percentile) and has slipped from its prior ranking. Its proficiency rates trail West Chatham in every subject, with the widest gap in 5th grade math (24.6% vs. 39.0%). Pooler did show a strong jump in 3rd grade math (+14.5 points), but its 5th grade math declined by 3.3 points, highlighting inconsistent performance across grade levels.
Interestingly, Pooler Elementary spends significantly more per student ($20,367 vs. $16,853) and has a better student-teacher ratio (11.1:1 vs. 14.6:1), yet still underperforms West Chatham academically. This suggests that higher poverty concentration (85.6% vs. 77% free/reduced lunch) and resource deployment may matter more than spending alone. Both schools have chronic absenteeism rates (17.6% and 16.8%) near the state average (17.7%), which is notable given their high-poverty populations. For parents, West Chatham appears to be on a strong upward trajectory, while Pooler Elementary offers smaller classes but more variable results—making West Chatham the more consistent choice academically.
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