Lamar County

Lamar County Schools in Barnesville, Georgia, is a four-school district serving approximately 2,872 students across grades PK-12, with two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The district overall holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 43rd percentile statewide, with all schools serving predominantly low-income populations (91-100% free/reduced lunch).

The standout performer is Lamar County Middle School, the only 3-star school in the district, ranking in the 52nd percentile and improving from the 48th percentile last year. It achieves near-parity with state averages in 6th-grade math and actually exceeds the state in 8th-grade science, despite serving a 100% poverty population. Lamar County High School shows the most dramatic momentum, jumping 20 percentile points over two years to the 49th percentile, with Algebra I proficiency nearly matching the state and U.S. History exceeding it. However, Lamar County Elementary School is a clear concern, holding a 1-star rating with all test scores well below state averages, including a 22.3-point deficit in 4th-grade math. Lamar County Primary School (PK-2) has no test scores but maintains the district's lowest chronic absenteeism at 11.8%.

Key weaknesses include high school Biology proficiency at just 28.3% (18.9 points below state) and chronic absenteeism at the high school reaching 24.0%, well above the state's 17.7%. The middle school's 8th-grade math dropped 8.5 points year-over-year, while 6th-grade math improved 11.8 points, suggesting cohort volatility. The district's graduation rate of 87.6% exceeds the state average, and spending ranges from $11,216 to $13,203 per student, with the best-performing middle school spending mid-range. For parents, the secondary schools offer encouraging trajectories, but the elementary school's academic gaps and the high school's Biology and attendance issues warrant attention.