Summary:
Early County is a small, rural district in Blakely, Georgia, serving about 1,482 students across three schools—Early County Elementary School (PK-6), Early County Middle School (7-8), and Early County High School (9-12)—with the district ranking in the bottom 6% of Georgia schools.
Among the three, Early County Middle School is the biggest concern. Despite spending the most per student ($20,686) and having the smallest class sizes (7.6:1), it posts the weakest results, with 7th-grade math proficiency at just 8.2% versus the state’s 42.0%—a 33.8-point gap. Its state ranking has also slipped from the 14th to the 6th percentile in three years. Early County Elementary School is the most stable, holding a 16-17th percentile ranking, but shows a troubling math slide: proficiency falls from 27.2% in 3rd grade to just 6.3% in 6th grade. Early County High School offers a mixed picture—its academic rankings have dropped to the 14th percentile, yet it beats state averages on graduation (87.9% vs. 87.2%) and dropout rates (1.9% vs. 2.4%).
Key takeaways for parents: chronic absenteeism is a district-wide issue, especially at the high school, where 34.6% of students are chronically absent—nearly double the state rate. Science is a relative bright spot, with 5th-grade proficiency within 7 points of the state average. However, year-to-year scores swing dramatically (e.g., U.S. History dropped from 26.9% to 13.1%), likely due to small class sizes. The district’s high poverty levels (77.9-100% free/reduced lunch) and proficiency rates roughly half the state average in most subjects point to systemic challenges that will require comprehensive support.
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