Elementary Schools in Henry County

East Lake Elementary is the clear academic leader among the 29 elementary schools in Henry County, which serves roughly 17,300 students across Pre-K through 5th grade. East Lake ranks in the 77th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating, posting math proficiency rates 15–33 points above district averages and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at just 9.5%. Timber Ridge Elementary follows closely with a 58th percentile ranking, leading the district in 5th grade science (51.2%) and posting the highest 5th grade ELA score (58.4%) from the prior year. New Hope Elementary and Rocky Creek Elementary round out the top tier with 3-star ratings, while Austin Road Elementary stands out as a high-poverty school (77.8% free/reduced lunch) that still achieves a 47th percentile ranking and the district's best 5th grade science score at 53.5%.

At the other end of the spectrum, Tussahaw Elementary ranks 1,139th out of 1,219 schools statewide (7th percentile), with 5th grade math proficiency at just 10.9%. Wesley Lakes Elementary (83.3% poverty) and Birch Creek Elementary (26.1% chronic absenteeism) also struggle in the bottom 8th percentile. Chronic absenteeism emerges as the strongest correlate with performance—the five schools with the lowest absenteeism rates all rank in the top half of the district, while the five highest-absenteeism schools all rank in the bottom third. The district average absenteeism rate of 19.6% exceeds the state average, with Locust Grove Elementary (26.7%) and Walnut Creek Elementary (26.3%) showing the most concern.

District-wide, math proficiency declines sharply from 3rd grade (36.9%) to 5th grade (29.8%), with Oakland Elementary showing a 26.8-point drop across those grades despite improving its overall ranking by 275 positions since 2023. Science is a district-wide weakness—only three schools exceed the state average of 44.2%. Per-student spending varies dramatically from $12,519 at Dutchtown Elementary to $19,788 at Smith-Barnes Elementary, yet higher spending does not predict better outcomes. For parents, the key takeaway is that attendance matters enormously, and schools like Austin Road and Rocky Creek prove that high-poverty schools can achieve strong results with the right instructional focus.