Elementary Schools in Decatur County

Decatur County is home to three elementary schools—Hutto Elementary School (grades 3-5), Jones-Wheat Primary School (grades PK-2), and West Bainbridge Primary School (grades PK-2)—serving roughly 2,010 students in a rural southwest Georgia community where every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

Hutto Elementary is the only school with current test data, and its results show real challenges. Math proficiency trails the state by 17 to 24 points across grades 3-5, with 4th grade dropping sharply from 32.5% to 26.2% proficient in one year. The school’s state ranking has fallen from the 52nd percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 22nd percentile (1 star) this year—a decline of 342 spots. Science is a relative bright spot, with 33% of 5th graders proficient, just 11 points below the state. Chronic absenteeism at Hutto (20.6%) is above the state rate of 17.7% but far better than the primary schools. The two primary schools, which lack current test scores, show a stark contrast in attendance: Jones-Wheat has a 30.7% chronic absenteeism rate, and West Bainbridge tops the district at 33.8%—nearly double the state average. Both primary schools spend about $2,400 more per student than Hutto ($14,453 and $14,438 vs. $12,075), yet their last rankings (from 2020-2021) showed Jones-Wheat at the 57th percentile and West Bainbridge at the 59th percentile.

For parents, the key takeaway is that this district is struggling across the board. All three schools exceed the state absenteeism rate, and the district itself ranks in the bottom 14% of Georgia districts. Hutto’s declining trajectory and the 4th grade math drop deserve immediate attention, while the primary schools’ high absenteeism may be undermining readiness before students even reach Hutto. On the positive side, student-teacher ratios are favorable (13.6 to 14.8), and science performance offers a potential foundation to build on. If you’re choosing between these schools, note that Hutto is the only one with current academic data, and its numbers suggest families should closely monitor progress and advocate for targeted support in math and attendance.