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Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts

Q: Is Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts a good school?

Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts ranks 367 th of 1219 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

367^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,219 Georgia Elementary Schools

Better than 70% of Georgia elementary schools

Summary

Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts is a public arts magnet school in Savannah, GA, serving 770 students in grades PK-8 and ranking in the 70th percentile statewide—a strong performer within the Savannah-Chatham County district, which sits in the 42nd percentile.

Garrison’s standout strength is its middle school program. In 8th grade, 63.3% of students are proficient in social studies (vs. 40.2% statewide), 50% in science (vs. 29.7% statewide), and 60.4% in math (vs. 46.3% statewide). The school also excels in Algebra I, with 76.8% proficiency compared to 48.1% statewide. Perhaps most impressive is the school’s chronic absenteeism rate of just 4.5%—nearly four times lower than the district average of 16.6% and far better than nearby schools like Otis J Brock III Elementary School (27.1%) or Andrea B Williams Elementary School (24.2%). This consistent attendance likely fuels academic success.

Compared to neighboring schools, Garrison outperforms most by a wide margin—Gadsden Elementary School ranks in the 30th percentile, while Susie King Taylor Community School sits in the 3rd. The only nearby school with higher test scores is Savannah Classical Academy Charter School (88th percentile), but Garrison achieves strong results with a more economically diverse student body (51% free/reduced lunch vs. 93%) and lower per-pupil spending ($17,571 vs. $24,894). While Garrison’s current ranking dipped slightly from recent years, its decade-long track record of 3-4 star ratings and exceptional middle school outcomes make it a reliable choice for families seeking both arts enrichment and academic rigor.

770

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,571

Per pupil spending ?

51%

Free/discounted lunch ?

649 W Jones St
Savannah, GA 31401

(912) 395-5975

District: Savannah-Chatham County

Racial breakdown:

African American:

50.9%

White:

25.1%

Two or more races:

10.4%

See top rated Georgia elementary schools

Compare Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts to nearby elementary schools!

Test scores delayed: 2026 rankings for Georgia do not yet include English Language Arts scores, which will not be released by the Georgia Department of Education until winter 2026.

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Georgia average (57% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Savannah-Chatham County

✓Above the Georgia median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg32%

Georgia avg44%

Elementary school

367^th of 1,219

Georgia public elementary schools ?

Top 30%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

79^th of 578

Georgia public middle schools ?

Top 14%▬ steady since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 31Elementary Schools in the Savannah-Chatham County

117^th of 201Savannah-Chatham County among Georgia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	66.0	367 of 1219	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	83.6	193 of 1238	84.4%	★★★★☆
2024	82.3	207 of 1236	83.3%	★★★★☆
2023	79.1	237 of 1223	80.6%	★★★★☆
2022	78.2	253 of 1220	79.3%	★★★★☆
2021	65.6	376 of 1214	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.8	215 of 1234	82.6%	★★★★☆
2018	86.7	143 of 1209	88.2%	★★★★☆
2017	85.4	150 of 1205	87.6%	★★★★☆
2016	78.8	220 of 1233	82.2%	★★★★☆
2015	75.7	257 of 1240	79.3%	★★★★☆
2014	82.6	132 of 1231	89.3%	★★★★☆
2013	81.8	152 of 1225	87.6%	★★★★☆
2012	82.0	148 of 1201	87.7%	★★★★☆
2011	85.1	97 of 1212	92.0%	★★★★★
2010	10.1	1102 of 1183	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	19.7	993 of 1133	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	10.3	1066 of 1134	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	4.0	1107 of 1125	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	5.2	1078 of 1101	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	60.3	264 of 828	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	78.1	143 of 892	84.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.1	140 of 879	84.1%	★★★★☆
2023	75.8	144 of 870	83.4%	★★★★☆
2022	75.7	162 of 876	81.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	63.8	360 of 1186	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	85.5	167 of 1224	86.4%	★★★★☆
2024	82.2	205 of 1223	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	79.5	218 of 1212	82.0%	★★★★☆
2022	81.1	212 of 1206	82.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	70.1	317 of 1183	73.2%	★★★★☆
2025	76.3	258 of 1225	78.9%	★★★★☆
2024	78.9	230 of 1220	81.1%	★★★★☆
2023	73.0	293 of 1210	75.8%	★★★★☆
2022	69.7	331 of 1209	72.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2025	82.4	61 of 565	89.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	84.4	101 of 700	85.6%	★★★★☆
2025	94.6	14 of 769	98.2%	★★★★★
2024	89.3	55 of 772	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	83.4	122 of 775	84.3%	★★★★☆
2022	82.2	122 of 779	84.3%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	83.6	79 of 578	86.3%	★★★★☆
2025	93.3	44 of 585	92.5%	★★★★★
2024	92.9	45 of 578	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	86.5	71 of 569	87.5%	★★★★☆
2022	88.2	59 of 558	89.4%	★★★★☆
2021	87.1	61 of 542	88.7%	★★★★☆
2019	83.6	82 of 559	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	82.0	88 of 543	83.8%	★★★★☆
2017	80.7	86 of 539	84.0%	★★★★☆
2016	82.0	76 of 545	86.1%	★★★★☆
2015	86.1	59 of 537	89.0%	★★★★☆
2014	86.0	4 of 521	99.2%	★★★★★
2013	86.7	2 of 527	99.6%	★★★★★
2012	86.6	3 of 508	99.4%	★★★★★
2011	86.1	15 of 504	97.0%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	79.0	73 of 480	84.8%	★★★★☆
2025	92.5	24 of 494	95.1%	★★★★★
2024	91.4	31 of 489	93.7%	★★★★★
2023	85.6	49 of 485	89.9%	★★★★★
2022	86.8	47 of 482	90.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	83.9	70 of 550	87.3%	★★★★☆
2025	93.5	26 of 567	95.4%	★★★★★
2024	92.2	30 of 558	94.6%	★★★★★
2023	86.3	60 of 553	89.2%	★★★★☆
2022	83.3	71 of 544	86.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	83.2	77 of 550	86.0%	★★★★☆
2025	89.7	44 of 569	92.3%	★★★★★
2024	88.2	48 of 561	91.4%	★★★★★
2023	80.6	86 of 559	84.6%	★★★★☆
2022	86.9	59 of 553	89.3%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2023	68.7	43 of 163	73.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	87.6	28 of 404	93.1%	★★★★★
2025	89.6	22 of 415	94.7%	★★★★★
2024	89.2	23 of 417	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	79.3	74 of 429	82.8%	★★★★☆
2022	78.8	80 of 425	81.2%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Special Education (2025)89th percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)86th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2026)73rd percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)70th percentile~ school

African American (2026)68th percentile~ school

Middle school

White (2026)93rd percentile+7 vs school

Female (2026)87th percentile~ school

Male (2026)86th percentile~ school

African American (2026)85th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2023)74th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I77%+29 vs state

HS Physical Science65%+4 vs state

Social Studies63%+23 vs state

Mathematics57%+11 vs state

Science46%+7 vs state

4.0

3 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, January 26, 2013

This school has not lived up to the expectations that were promised. It lacks a strong leader to drive the students and staff into a positive direction it needs to go in. It has so much potential which is being wasted on ineffective leadership. Close Quote

Schools Near Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2026)	Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2026)						Milestones Assessment Science (2026)		Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2026)	Milestones Assessment HS Physical Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment HS Physical Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts	Public	PK, KG-8	649 W Jones St	Savannah	31401	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	No	(912) 395-5975	770	67	11.5	51.0%	193 (25.1%)	392 (50.9%)	73 (9.5%)	31 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	80 (10.4%)	66	367^th of 1219 public elementary schools	69.9%		83.6	193^rd of 1238 public elementary schools	84.4%	174	76.8	46.7	62.8	42.2	62.1	60.9	60.4	42.7	50.0	63.3	64.6	$17,571	$758	$16,814
Gadsden Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	919 May St	Savannah	31415	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-5940	493	39	12.6	99.0%	4 (0.8%)	465 (94.3%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.0%)	28.3	858^th of 1219 public elementary schools	29.6%		14.4	1104^th of 1238 public elementary schools	10.8%	246		39.2	44.1	20.3				20.4				$19,668	$2,005	$17,663
Susie King Taylor Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	1709 Bull St	Savannah	31401	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	Yes	No	No	No	(912) 395-4200	284	21	13.5	85.9%	29 (10.2%)	227 (79.9%)	15 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.2%)	7.1	1182^nd of 1219 public elementary schools	3.0%		17.7	1035^th of 1238 public elementary schools	16.4%	147		14.3	14.6	11.5	5.8	13.8	14.8	20.0	25.9	7.4		$17,533	$2,181	$15,352
Henderson E Formey Junior Early Learning Center	Public	PK-K	400 E Broad St	Savannah	31401	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-5500	324	27	12.2	96.0%	12 (3.7%)	268 (82.7%)	31 (9.6%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.5%)								(n/a)												$27,956	$1,532	$26,425
Savannah Classical Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	705 E Anderson St	Savannah	31401	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	Yes	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-4040	349	32	11.0	93.1%	71 (20.3%)	175 (50.1%)	67 (19.2%)	8 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.7%)	87.7	152^nd of 1219 public elementary schools	87.5%		93.7	88^th of 1238 public elementary schools	92.9%	64		64.9	75.5	70.6	47.1	52.0	83.8	94.1	80.7	87.1		$24,894	$322	$24,571
Butler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1909 Cynthia St	Savannah	31415	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-2525	524	41	12.7	89.3%	7 (1.3%)	430 (82.1%)	72 (13.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.5%)	31.8	807^th of 1219 public elementary schools	33.8%		15.1	1089^th of 1238 public elementary schools	12.0%	282		32.9	36.8	37.8				31.8				$19,630	$1,809	$17,821
Andrea B Williams Elementary School	Public	1-5	1150 Wheaton St	Savannah	31404	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-2500	414	39	10.6	93.0%	10 (2.4%)	365 (88.2%)	25 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	11 (2.7%)	16.7	1048^th of 1219 public elementary schools	14.0%		11.8	1149^th of 1238 public elementary schools	7.2%	101		23.1	24.8	16.1				32.4				$20,839	$3,241	$17,597
Otis J Brock III Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1804 Stratford St	Savannah	31415	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-5300	568	40	14.2	88.7%	33 (5.8%)	409 (72.0%)	99 (17.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	22 (3.9%)	23.5	940^th of 1219 public elementary schools	22.9%		16.3	1066^th of 1238 public elementary schools	13.9%	126		44.1	29.7	18.3				21.1				$16,974	$1,687	$15,287
Ellis Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	220 E 49th St	Savannah	31405	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	No	(912) 395-5470	419	43	9.7	41.5%	207 (49.4%)	135 (32.2%)	27 (6.4%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (10.5%)	40.4	664^th of 1219 public elementary schools	45.5%		40.8	677^th of 1238 public elementary schools	45.3%	13		51.1	33.3	25.0	31.5	46.9	64.6	45.5	51.6	48.4		$22,316	$746	$21,571
Hodge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	975 Clinch Street	Savannah	31405	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-5200	420	30	14.2	95.2%	14 (3.3%)	366 (87.1%)	21 (5.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	15 (3.6%)	26.3	890^th of 1219 public elementary schools	27.0%		37.5	718^th of 1238 public elementary schools	42.0%	172		27.8	43.3	20.4				31.5				$20,087	$2,343	$17,743

Frequently Asked Questions about Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts

How many students attend Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 770 students attended Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts.

What district is Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts in?

Savannah-Chatham County

What is the racial makeup of Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts?

Students at Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts are 51% African American, 25% White, 10% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic, 4% Asian.

Is Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts a good school?

Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts ranks 367^th of 1219 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts!

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataNewAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresNewAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)NewAug 6, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.