Elementary Schools in Hancock County

Lewis Elementary School is the only elementary school in Hancock County, serving grades PK through 5 in the rural community of Sparta, Georgia, with 293 students enrolled.

Lewis Elementary faces significant challenges tied to extreme poverty—95% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch—but shows a clear upward trajectory. The school has climbed from the bottom 0th percentile in state rankings (2023-2024) to the 9th percentile (2025-2026), a meaningful improvement. The most dramatic gain is in 4th grade math, where proficiency jumped from 6.7% to 41.7% in one year, now sitting just 8 points below the state average. Science scores also more than doubled, from 5.4% to 13.3% proficiency. However, performance remains uneven: 3rd grade math (5.8%) and 5th grade math (11.1%) still lag far behind state averages, suggesting the 4th grade success may be cohort-specific rather than systemic. The school spends generously at $19,509 per student and maintains a favorable 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio, yet outcomes remain in the bottom decile—a resource paradox likely tied to the compounding effects of rural poverty and historical achievement gaps.

One clear strength is attendance: chronic absenteeism at Lewis Elementary is 15.7%, better than both the district (19.4%) and state (17.7%) averages, meaning students are consistently showing up ready to learn. While ELA scores are not yet available for the current year (they release in December), the overall trend is positive. The school is improving its ranking, boosting science scores, and seeing a standout 4th grade math cohort. For parents, this is a school that is clearly working to turn things around, with dedicated resources and improving momentum—though significant work remains to close the gap with the rest of Georgia.