Summary:
Powder Springs, Georgia, is home to two large public high schools—Hillgrove High School and McEachern High School—serving roughly 4,457 students in grades 9-12 within the Cobb County School District.
Hillgrove is the clear standout, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the top 10% of Georgia high schools. It outperforms both the district and state averages in every subject, with proficiency rates of 67.1% in Algebra I, 69.8% in Biology, and 56.8% in U.S. History. Its graduation rate is an exceptional 96.4%, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 9.7% is well below the state average. McEachern, while a solid school, trails significantly—it holds a 3-star rating and posts proficiency rates of 33.6% in Algebra I, 35.7% in Biology, and 51.1% in U.S. History. The gap is starkest in math and science, where Hillgrove's proficiency is roughly double McEachern's. Notably, McEachern serves a much higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students (69.3% vs. 30.3% free/reduced lunch), and its chronic absenteeism rate of 21.9% is more than double Hillgrove's.
Despite these differences, both schools exceed the state graduation rate of 87.2%, with McEachern at 91.2%. McEachern also showed meaningful year-over-year improvement across all subjects, including a 6.9-point gain in Algebra I. Interestingly, McEachern actually spends more per student ($13,650 vs. $12,833) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio, suggesting the performance gap is driven by factors beyond resources. Hillgrove's only dip was a 4.6-point decline in U.S. History, narrowing that gap to just 5.7 points. For parents, Hillgrove offers top-tier academics and engagement, while McEachern demonstrates resilience and upward momentum, particularly in social studies.
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