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Harper Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1113^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,219 Georgia Elementary Schools

Better than 9% of Georgia elementary schools

Summary

Harper Elementary School in Riverdale, GA, serves approximately 690 students in grades PK-5 as part of Clayton County Public Schools, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Harper Elementary has faced significant academic challenges, ranking in the bottom 10% of Georgia elementary schools in recent years. However, the school shows several promising trends that parents should know about. Most notably, Harper has achieved a remarkable turnaround in attendance: chronic absenteeism has dropped from 38.4% in 2021-2022 to 16.6% today—the lowest rate among all nearby schools and matching the state average. This is especially impressive when compared to Church Street Elementary (33.4%) and Tara Elementary (31.5%). The school also shines in 5th grade science, where 28.9% of students are proficient—exceeding the district average of 26.3% and representing an eightfold improvement from just two years ago. Math scores are also trending upward in 3rd and 5th grades, though 4th grade math dipped slightly.

Harper's student-teacher ratio of 13:1 is among the most favorable in the area, giving teachers more opportunity for individual attention. The school spends $16,223 per student, comparable to nearby schools. While overall test scores remain below district averages, the dramatic improvements in attendance and science suggest the school is building momentum. A nearby example of potential is Kilpatrick Elementary, which serves a similarly high-poverty population and recently jumped from the 12th to 44th percentile—showing that significant progress is possible in this district. For parents, Harper offers a dedicated staff, improving attendance, and clear signs of academic growth, though the school still has work to do to lift all subjects to grade level.

690

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,223

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

93 Valley Hill Rd SW
Riverdale, GA 30274

(678) 479-2654

District: Clayton County

Students who attend Harper Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Sequoyah Middle School
High:	Charles R. Drew High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

62.6%

Hispanic:

32.3%

Two or more races:

2.5%

See top rated Georgia elementary schools

Compare Harper Elementary School 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: Holding steady — 13th percentile in 2015 → 9th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (21% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)

!Mathematics scores 29 pts below the Georgia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school21%

District avg28%

Georgia avg47%

1,113^th of 1,219

Georgia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 19% (2016) to bottom 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

29^th of 37Elementary Schools in the Clayton County

163^rd of 201Clayton 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	12.9	1113 of 1219	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.1	1110 of 1238	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.5	1166 of 1236	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	1102 of 1223	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.0	1153 of 1220	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	30.3	856 of 1234	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.8	844 of 1209	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	30.5	831 of 1205	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	20.7	993 of 1233	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	16.3	1078 of 1240	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	13.3	1106 of 1231	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	11.4	1112 of 1225	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	13.9	1085 of 1201	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	25.4	1006 of 1212	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	30.7	932 of 1183	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	12.9	1049 of 1133	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	20.0	987 of 1134	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	10.1	1052 of 1125	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	8.5	1053 of 1101	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	29.4	596 of 828	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.2	610 of 892	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.0	774 of 879	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.1	757 of 870	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.4	828 of 876	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2025	21.3	295 of 317	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	35.7	198 of 304	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.3	173 of 286	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	15.2	276 of 283	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	17.4	1023 of 1186	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	14.4	1107 of 1224	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.8	1149 of 1223	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.1	1108 of 1212	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.2	1107 of 1206	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	11.5	483 of 503	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.3	548 of 583	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.2	526 of 565	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.8	461 of 535	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.9	494 of 516	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	10.5	1115 of 1183	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.6	1086 of 1225	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.4	1166 of 1220	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.7	1084 of 1210	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	9.4	1159 of 1209	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)28th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2026)14th percentile+5 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)7th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)6th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)4th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Science29%-15 vs state

Mathematics18%-29 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a principal
Thursday, December 3, 2020

The new administration has provided the community with a host of supplies and materials to ensure that all are safe and able to enage in instruction during COVID-19. Additionally, the support provided to parents helps with understanding of school materials and how to use the provided laptops and chromebooks Close Quote

Schools Near Harper Elementary School

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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
Harper Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	93 Valley Hill Rd SW	Riverdale	30274	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 479-2654	690	53	13.0	100.0%	4 (0.6%)	432 (62.6%)	223 (32.3%)	13 (1.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.5%)	12.9	1113^th of 1219 public elementary schools	8.7%		14.1	1110^th of 1238 public elementary schools	10.3%	3		17.8	17.7	19.3				28.9				$16,223	$1,724	$14,500
Riverdale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6253 Garden Walk Blvd	Riverdale	30274	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 994-4015	559	43	13.0	100.0%	3 (0.5%)	352 (63.0%)	171 (30.6%)	14 (2.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.0%)	19.8	996^th of 1219 public elementary schools	18.3%		16.3	1064^th of 1238 public elementary schools	14.1%	68		25.5	23.2	23.0				34.4				$16,987	$1,755	$15,231
Church Street Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7013 Church St	Riverdale	30274	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 994-4000	706	42	16.8	100.0%	4 (0.6%)	543 (76.9%)	114 (16.1%)	19 (2.7%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.1%)	6.4	1190^th of 1219 public elementary schools	2.4%		11.2	1160^th of 1238 public elementary schools	6.3%	30		14.0	15.2	12.1				15.1				$14,511	$1,566	$12,945
Tara Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	937 Mount Zion Rd	Morrow	30260	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 968-2915	570	46	12.3	100.0%	11 (1.9%)	329 (57.7%)	210 (36.8%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.3%)	15.4	1072^nd of 1219 public elementary schools	12.1%		14.7	1098^th of 1238 public elementary schools	11.3%	26		32.5	29.0	14.3				17.9				$16,807	$2,067	$14,740
Dubois Integrity Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	6479 Church St	Riverdale	30274	Clayton County	State Specialty Schools I- Dubois Integrity Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(770) 629-1534	1,341	69	19.4	96.3%	4 (0.3%)	1,243 (92.7%)	55 (4.1%)	6 (0.4%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	29 (2.2%)	14.1	1092^nd of 1219 public elementary schools	10.4%		16.7	1053^rd of 1238 public elementary schools	14.9%	39	70.0	19.3	15.3	10.7	21.9	24.1	27.6	30.6	3.8	6.1	50.0	$16,164	$996	$15,168
Callaway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	120 Oriole Dr	Jonesboro	30238	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(678) 479-2600	677	48	14.1	100.0%	2 (0.3%)	511 (75.5%)	114 (16.8%)	10 (1.5%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.2%)	21.1	967^th of 1219 public elementary schools	20.7%		18.3	1023^rd of 1238 public elementary schools	17.4%	56		28.6	28.0	27.5				29.6				$16,424	$1,901	$14,524
Kilpatrick Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7534 Tara Rd	Jonesboro	30236	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 473-2790	637	46	13.8	99.4%	11 (1.7%)	293 (46.0%)	295 (46.3%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.3%)	39.3	678^th of 1219 public elementary schools	44.4%		14.9	1095^th of 1238 public elementary schools	11.6%	417		38.2	36.0	44.7				36.2				$15,743	$1,562	$14,181
Swint Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	500 Highway 138 W	Jonesboro	30238	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 473-2780	544	39	13.9	100.0%	3 (0.6%)	376 (69.1%)	136 (25.0%)	9 (1.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.1%)	29.6	842^nd of 1219 public elementary schools	30.9%		19.8	1003^rd of 1238 public elementary schools	19.0%	161		24.1	46.3	22.1				36.4				$16,384	$1,575	$14,809
Haynie Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1169 Morrow Rd	Morrow	30260	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 968-2905	767	58	13.2	100.0%	11 (1.4%)	285 (37.2%)	407 (53.1%)	44 (5.7%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.1%)	15.6	1065^th of 1219 public elementary schools	12.6%		22.6	965^th of 1238 public elementary schools	22.1%	100		29.5	26.0	20.7				20.7				$16,686	$1,736	$14,949
Martin Luther King- Junior Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5745 W Lees Mill Rd	College Park	30349	Clayton County	Clayton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 991-4651	516	40	12.9	100.0%	9 (1.7%)	437 (84.7%)	41 (7.9%)	13 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.1%)	15.6	1064^th of 1219 public elementary schools	12.7%		11.4	1157^th of 1238 public elementary schools	6.5%	93		31.0	19.2	22.0				22.2				$16,959	$1,628	$15,331

Frequently Asked Questions about Harper Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Harper Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Harper Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sequoyah Middle School
High : Charles R. Drew High School

What is the racial makeup of Harper Elementary School?

Students at Harper Elementary School are 63% African American, 32% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Harper Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 690 students attended Harper Elementary School.

What district is Harper Elementary School in?

Clayton County

Is Harper Elementary School a good school?

Harper Elementary School ranks in the bottom 8.7% of Georgia elementary schools.

Rate Harper Elementary School!

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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.