Elementary Schools in Murray County

Murray County is home to six elementary schools serving grades PK-6, with a combined enrollment of roughly 3,557 students, all of whom come from economically disadvantaged households. The district ranks 96th out of 201 Georgia districts, and while it beats state averages in early-grade math, it trails in 5th-grade math and science.

Northwest Elementary School is the clear standout, earning the district’s only 4-star rating and ranking in the 76th percentile statewide. Its 5th-grade science proficiency rate of 77.2% is nearly double the state average and more than five times that of Eton Elementary School, which sits at the bottom with just 14.9% proficiency. Chatsworth Elementary School is the district’s rising star, climbing nearly 200 spots in state rankings over three years and posting the highest 5th-grade math score (56.6%) in the district. Woodlawn Elementary School and Spring Place Elementary School sit in the middle, while Coker Elementary School has declined for three straight years and now ranks in the 46th percentile.

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern at 22.6%, well above the state’s 17.7%, but the pattern is counterintuitive: Northwest has a 24.8% absenteeism rate yet outperforms everyone, while Chatsworth and Woodlawn have the best attendance (around 13%) but rank lower. A consistent “5th-grade math cliff” appears across all schools, with proficiency dropping sharply from 3rd to 5th grade. Woodlawn spends the most per student ($14,481) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio (11.6:1), yet doesn’t outperform Northwest, which spends less and has a higher ratio. Eton remains the biggest concern, holding a 2-star rating for three years, though its 6th-grade ELA score (53.7%) exceeds the state average. Overall, most schools are improving, with the district’s top two performers showing the most dramatic gains.