Elementary Schools in Rome City

The Rome City school district is home to six elementary schools serving grades PK through 6, with a combined enrollment of roughly 3,400 students across a high-poverty area where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For parents, the standout choice is East Central Elementary School, which ranks in the 73rd percentile statewide and posts the district’s best science scores (56.9% proficiency) while exceeding district math averages at every grade level. Elm Street Elementary is the district’s most improved school, jumping from the 35th to the 70th percentile in just two years, with top-tier 4th and 5th grade math scores and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (2.0%). West End Elementary School, the largest school, is also a reliable performer, ranking in the 69th percentile with the highest 3rd-grade math proficiency (60.7%) in the district. On the other end, Main Elementary School is the most challenged, ranking in the 11th percentile with math proficiency rates as low as 12.7% in 5th grade and a chronic absenteeism rate of 18.9%—nearly seven times higher than Elm Street’s. Anna K. Davie Elementary also struggles, ranking in the 30th percentile despite spending the most per student ($18,413).

Key takeaways for families: spending does not predict success—West End spends the least ($12,360) yet outperforms Anna K. Davie, which spends the most. Chronic absenteeism is a strong indicator of performance, with lower-absence schools like Elm Street and West Central Elementary School showing better results. The district actually beats the state average in 5th-grade science (45.7% vs. 44.2%), and three schools—East Central, West End, and Elm Street—excel in that subject. While current ELA data is pending, prior-year results suggest early literacy is a district-wide weakness, particularly in 3rd grade. The encouraging news is that high-poverty schools here can and do succeed, proving that school-level practices matter more than demographics.