Elementary Schools in Hart County

Hart County is home to three elementary schools—North Hart Elementary School, South Hart Elementary School, and Hartwell Elementary School—serving grades PK-5 in a predominantly low-income area where 96.55% to 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

North Hart Elementary School is the clear standout, earning 4 stars and ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide. It outperforms both district and state averages in most subjects, including a remarkable 66% proficiency in 4th-grade math (16 points above the state) and 45.5% in 5th-grade science, which exceeds the state average. South Hart Elementary School sits in the middle, ranking in the 54th percentile, with solid 4th-grade math (59.6%) but a weak 5th-grade science score (28%). Hartwell Elementary School is the lowest performer, ranking in the 43rd percentile with just 26.6% proficiency in 5th-grade math—a concerning 17.5 points below the state average.

All three schools share a troubling pattern: math proficiency drops sharply between 4th and 5th grade, with declines of 20-26 points across the district. This suggests a curriculum or transition issue worth investigating. On the positive side, chronic absenteeism is remarkably low (9.6-12%) compared to the state average of 17.7%, despite high poverty levels. Notably, Hartwell Elementary spends the most per student ($13,415) yet performs the worst, while North Hart Elementary spends the least ($12,726) and performs the best—suggesting factors like instructional quality and leadership matter more than funding. The wide gap in science proficiency between North Hart and its sister schools (45.5% vs. 28-29%) presents an opportunity for the district to share best practices and lift all schools.