Summary:
Rockmart, Georgia is served by five public schools—three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—that together educate 3,721 students across two different districts, Polk County and Paulding County.
For parents, the standout school in the area is Sara M. Ragsdale Elementary, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 57th percentile statewide—the highest of any Rockmart school. Its math proficiency rates in grades 3 through 5 consistently beat district averages and often match or exceed state averages. Van Wert Elementary is the turnaround story, jumping from the 23rd to the 32nd percentile in one year despite serving a student population where 100% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Rockmart Middle School is also on the rise, climbing steadily from the 33rd to the 44th percentile over three years. Eastside Elementary (38th percentile) and Rockmart High School (37th percentile) round out the group with solid, mid-range performance.
Key takeaways for families: Rockmart High School posts a strong 93.5% graduation rate, well above the state average, though End of Course scores in Algebra and U.S. History lag significantly. Rockmart Middle School has a notable weakness in 8th-grade Social Studies (13.2% proficiency vs. 40.2% statewide) but excels in science. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at Sara M. Ragsdale Elementary (22.7%) and Van Wert Elementary (19.6%), while Eastside Elementary has the best attendance rate at 12.7%. Spending per student varies from $11,333 at the middle school to $14,671 at Ragsdale, but higher spending doesn't always translate to better results—Van Wert outperforms Eastside in several metrics despite similar resources. Overall, Rockmart schools show genuine bright spots and steady improvement, though targeted help in specific subjects and attendance could lift outcomes further.
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