Summary:
Ben Hill County is served by two elementary schools—Ben Hill County Primary School (grades PK-2) and Ben Hill Elementary School (grades 3-5)—which together educate about 1,367 students in a rural, high-poverty area where every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch.
For parents comparing the two schools, the most notable difference is in attendance and class size. Ben Hill County Primary School has a chronic absenteeism rate of 22.3%—well above the district average of 18.0% and the state average of 17.7%—and a higher student-teacher ratio of 17:1. In contrast, Ben Hill Elementary School posts a much better absenteeism rate of 16.4% and a more favorable 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Interestingly, the primary school spends more per student ($15,605 vs. $14,383), yet that higher spending does not translate into smaller classes or better attendance, suggesting resources may be going toward services other than direct instruction.
Academically, Ben Hill Elementary School shows a mixed picture. Third-grade math proficiency (42.2%) is closest to the state average (48.3%), and 5th-grade science improved by 5.5 points year-over-year—but still sits at just 20.6% proficiency versus 44.2% statewide, a nearly 24-point gap. Math trends are inconsistent: 3rd grade improved by 2.5 points, while 4th grade dropped 5.6 points. The school's state ranking has also slipped steadily from the 51st percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 32nd percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. Since Ben Hill County district test scores mirror this school's results exactly, the entire district's academic reputation hinges on this one campus. Parents should watch the science gap and the downward ranking trend, while noting that early math instruction appears to be a relative strength worth building on.
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