Elementary Schools in Marion County

L. K. Moss Elementary School is the only elementary school in Marion County, serving grades PK through 5 in Buena Vista, Georgia, with an enrollment of 606 students in a high-poverty area where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

As the sole elementary school in the district, L. K. Moss Elementary's performance directly shapes the county's overall academic profile. The school has experienced a concerning downward trend in state rankings, dropping from 858th (31st percentile) in 2023-2024 to 927th (24th percentile) in 2025-2026. Mathematics proficiency varies significantly by grade level: 3rd graders show relatively stronger performance at 39.5% proficient, but this drops sharply to 20.6% in 4th grade and 22.7% in 5th grade. The most alarming trend is the 5th-grade math decline of nearly 10 percentage points year-over-year, from 32.6% to 22.7%. However, there is a positive sign in 5th-grade science, which improved by 5.3 points to 34.6% proficiency. The school spends $13,747 per student with a favorable 15:1 student-teacher ratio, yet outcomes remain below state averages across all subjects, suggesting that poverty-related challenges require targeted interventions beyond standard resource allocation.

Chronic absenteeism affects 21.3% of students, exceeding the state rate of 17.7%, and likely contributes to academic struggles. While current-year English Language Arts data has not been released, last year's scores showed the school performing 17-20 points below state averages in every grade level, representing the largest achievement gap. The district's 1-star rating and bottom-quarter ranking among Georgia districts highlight systemic challenges. Still, the science improvement demonstrates that academic gains are achievable, and the relatively stronger 3rd-grade math performance offers a foundation to build upon. For parents, this school offers small class sizes and dedicated resources, but families should be aware of the significant academic gaps, particularly in upper elementary grades, and the need for strong attendance support.