Summary:
The Vidalia City school district is home to two elementary schools serving approximately 1,078 students in grades PK–5: Sally Dailey Meadows Elementary School (grades 2–5, 622 students) and J. D. Dickerson Primary School (grades PK–1, 456 students). Both schools serve a student population where 100% qualify for free or reduced lunch, and the district itself ranks in the 15th percentile statewide with a 1-star rating.
Academically, Sally Dailey Meadows Elementary School is the only school with published test scores, and it struggles significantly compared to state averages. In 2025–2026, math proficiency ranged from 22.3% (5th grade) to 25.6% (3rd and 4th grades), while the state averages were 44.1%–50.1%. Science proficiency was 28.9% versus the state's 44.2%. This leaves a persistent achievement gap of roughly 15–25 percentage points. The school's state ranking has declined for three straight years, from the 25th percentile (2023–2024) to the 16th percentile (2025–2026). There is a mixed picture year-over-year: 3rd and 4th grade math improved slightly, but 5th grade math dropped sharply from 31.3% to 22.3%. Chronic absenteeism at this school is 20.2%, above the state average of 17.7%. J. D. Dickerson Primary School has no test scores since Milestones begin in 3rd grade, but its chronic absenteeism rate (17.2%) matches the district average.
A notable difference between the two schools is spending: J. D. Dickerson Primary School spends $17,625 per student, which is 45.5% higher than Sally Dailey Meadows Elementary School's $12,112, despite nearly identical student-teacher ratios (14.2 vs. 14.5). This may reflect higher costs for early childhood programs, but it raises questions about resource equity. English Language Arts scores for the current year are not yet available (expected in December), so a complete picture is pending. Overall, families should expect significant academic challenges at the upper elementary level, with the district's performance driven entirely by Sally Dailey Meadows.
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