State Specialty Schools II- D.E.L.T.A. STEAM Academy

D.E.L.T.A. STEAM Academy is the only school in the State Specialty Schools II- D.E.L.T.A. STEAM Academy district, serving grades K-8 in Lithia Springs, GA, with 391 students and a favorable 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio.

This school has experienced a dramatic decline in its state ranking, falling from the 56th percentile (3 stars) in 2024-2025 to the 17th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026. The most recent test scores show significant struggles across nearly every subject. In mathematics, proficiency rates range from 15.8% (8th grade) to 34.0% (4th grade), all trailing state averages by 16 to 30 percentage points. Science scores are similarly low, with 5th grade at 21.8% and 8th grade at 11.2% proficient. The 8th grade social studies proficiency rate is just 5.3%, a staggering 34.9 points below the state average. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 29.6% of students chronically absent—nearly double the state rate of 17.7%.

However, the picture is not entirely bleak. In the prior year (2024-2025), the school outperformed state averages in English Language Arts for grades 3-5 by 9 to 12 percentage points, suggesting strong literacy instruction in the lower grades. Yet, math scores declined sharply year-over-year, with 5th grade dropping from 38.7% to 21.8% proficient. The 8th grade cohort faces the most critical challenges, with fewer than 1 in 6 students proficient in any tested subject. Despite spending $14,833 per student and maintaining a low student-teacher ratio, outcomes remain well below state benchmarks. The upcoming release of ELA scores in December will provide a fuller picture, but the current data points to systemic issues, particularly in STEM subjects and upper-grade performance, that warrant attention.