Summary:
Peach County is a seven-school district in central Georgia serving roughly 3,980 students across three elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools, with all but one school reporting 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility. The district overall ranks in the 29th percentile statewide with a 1-star rating, and while graduation rates are solid, test scores and chronic absenteeism remain key challenges.
For families, the standout options are Kay Road Elementary and Byron Middle School, both earning 3-star ratings and ranking in the 54th percentile. Kay Road leads the district in 3rd-grade math (52.9% proficient) and 5th-grade science (47.3%), both above state averages, and has climbed from the 36th to 54th percentile in two years. Byron Middle posts an extraordinary 75.9% proficiency in Algebra I—27 points above the state—and also exceeds state averages in 8th-grade social studies (48%) and math (52.7%). Byron Elementary is a solid mid-tier choice, ranking in the 49th percentile with 5th-grade science at 46.5%, just above the state. Hunt Elementary lags significantly, ranking in the 24th percentile with 5th-grade science at just 18.3%, a 29-point gap from Kay Road. Fort Valley Middle School ranks in the 19th percentile, though its Algebra I proficiency of 94.7% is remarkable—though this reflects a select group of accelerated students.
At the high school level, Peach County High School posts a strong 91.7% graduation rate but struggles academically, with Algebra I proficiency at just 16.5% and chronic absenteeism at 31.6%. Peach County Achievement Academy, an alternative school serving 60 students, faces severe challenges: a 53.6% graduation rate, 62.5% chronic absenteeism, and 0% proficiency in Algebra I and Biology, despite spending $26,154 per student. District-wide, chronic absenteeism (23.5%) is 33% above the state average, though Byron Elementary (16.0%) and Kay Road (16.6%) beat the state rate, showing targeted interventions can work. Note that ELA scores are not yet available for this release and will be released in December.
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