Summary:
Rockdale County Schools serves approximately 15,200 students across 18 schools—11 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools—in a suburban area east of Atlanta, with the district ranking in the 17th percentile statewide and earning a 1-star rating.
For parents, the standout schools are General Ray Davis Middle School and Honey Creek Elementary School. General Ray Davis is the district’s top middle school (41st percentile), with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at 17.5%—matching the state average—and strong 8th grade math (46.2% proficient) and Algebra I (84% proficient) results. Honey Creek is the top elementary school (41st percentile), excelling in 5th grade science at 51.4% proficiency, well above the state average of 44.2%. Barksdale Elementary also shows promise, improving from the 32nd to 40th percentile and matching the state average in 5th grade science. Among high schools, Salem High School leads with a 92.1% graduation rate and a 2.0% dropout rate, though its test scores rank lowest in the district (11th percentile). Heritage High School has seen the steepest decline, dropping from the 41st to 20th percentile over two years.
District-wide, chronic absenteeism is a major concern at 28.6% versus the state’s 17.7%, with the highest rates at Salem (40.0%), Heritage (37.8%), and Sims Elementary (33.2%). Economic disadvantage is widespread, with free/reduced lunch rates averaging 89% and four schools at 100%. Notably, middle school Algebra I proficiency (74–84%) far exceeds high school Algebra I (10–17%), reflecting that only advanced middle schoolers take the course. Per-student spending ranges from $12,804 at Heritage to $18,771 at Sims, but higher spending does not guarantee better results—Sims ranks in the 20th percentile despite the highest spending. Most schools have seen declining rankings over three years, though House Elementary and Honey Creek are exceptions. ELA scores will be released in December, providing a fuller picture of achievement.
Thank you for your feedback!