Elementary Schools in Newton County

The 14 elementary schools in Newton County, serving grades Pre-K through 5th (with Newton County Theme School at Ficquett extending through 8th grade), educate roughly 8,675 students across a mix of rural and suburban communities, with the district overall ranking in the bottom 20% of Georgia districts.

There is a dramatic performance gap between schools in this district. Newton County Theme School at Ficquett is the clear standout, ranking in the top 10% statewide (90th percentile) with math proficiency rates two to three times the district average—including an extraordinary 92.3% pass rate on the Algebra I End of Course exam. It also has by far the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 5.6%, compared to the district average of 24.4%. Mansfield Elementary and East Newton Elementary are the next strongest performers, ranking near the state median (58th and 50th percentiles respectively). At the other end, South Salem Elementary and Flint Hill Elementary rank in the bottom 2% statewide, with 5th grade math proficiency below 9% and chronic absenteeism rates above 27%.

Chronic absenteeism emerges as the strongest predictor of success—every school with absenteeism below 15% ranks in the top half of the district, while every school above 25% ranks in the bottom 10% statewide. Economic disadvantage is also pervasive, with 10 of 14 schools serving 100% free/reduced lunch populations. Notably, Oak Hill Elementary achieves a 30th percentile ranking despite 100% economic disadvantage, showing that high-poverty schools can succeed. Interestingly, per-student spending does not predict outcomes: Newton County Theme School spends the least ($12,253) yet performs best, while Mansfield spends the most ($18,933) but ranks second. Several schools also show a "middle school slide" pattern where 3rd grade math proficiency drops significantly by 5th grade, suggesting targeted interventions in upper elementary grades could help close the district's achievement gaps.