Elementary Schools in Clarke County

The 14 elementary schools in Clarke County, serving grades PK-5 and enrolling roughly 5,790 students, present a wide spectrum of performance, from standout success to significant challenges, all within a district that ranks in the 32nd percentile statewide.

For parents, the standout school is Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School, which ranks 213th statewide (83rd percentile) and posts the district's best scores in nearly every subject and grade—its 3rd grade math proficiency (69.5%) is nearly double the district average, and its 5th grade science (60.3%) is 16 points above the state average. Timothy Elementary School is the second-highest performer (404th statewide), with strong math scores and the district's best 5th grade ELA from last year. Cleveland Road Elementary School showed the most improvement, jumping from the 33rd to 53rd percentile, and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at 8.3%. At the other end, Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School (1,200th), Howard B. Stroud Elementary School (1,179th), and Gaines Elementary School (1,154th) rank in the bottom 5% statewide, with chronic absenteeism rates above 29% and math proficiency often below 15%.

District-wide, performance trails state averages in every subject, with the gap widening in upper grades—5th grade math proficiency is 33.3% versus 44.1% statewide. Chronic absenteeism is a major factor: the district rate of 26.8% far exceeds the state's 17.7%, and the schools with the lowest absenteeism (Cleveland Road, Judia Jackson Harris, Whitehead Road, Timothy) are all top-half performers, while the three highest-absenteeism schools are the bottom three. Notably, Johnnie Lay Burks achieves top results with below-average spending ($21,739/student), while Cleveland Road spends the most ($30,137) for mid-pack results. Most schools serve predominantly low-income populations (eight at 100% free/reduced lunch), yet the success of Burks and Timothy proves high achievement is possible, making attendance and instructional quality—not just resources—the key levers for improvement.