Argyle Elementary School

Argyle Elementary School in Smyrna, GA, serves approximately 333 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Cobb County school district, and it has been steadily climbing in statewide rankings over the past decade—from the 20th percentile in 2015-2016 to the 39th percentile in 2025-2026.

One of the most striking things about Argyle is its extraordinary investment in students. The school spends $26,471 per student—the highest among nearby schools, compared to $16,042 at King Springs Elementary and $14,196 at Nickajack Elementary. That funding supports an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.3:1, far below the 13.5:1 at King Springs or 15.1:1 at Nickajack. Argyle also serves a student body where 99.1% qualify for free or reduced lunch—the highest percentage among nearby schools—which helps explain why even with strong resources, overall test scores still trail district and state averages. However, the school shows real strengths: its Hispanic students rank in the 61st percentile statewide (3 stars), and 4th grade math proficiency (53.3%) outpaces both 3rd grade (33.9%) and 5th grade (33.3%). Compared to similar high-poverty schools, Argyle outperforms Green Acres Elementary in most math grades and beats Brumby Elementary in 4th and 5th grade math.

Perhaps the most encouraging trend is attendance. Argyle's chronic absenteeism rate has dropped dramatically from 32.5% in 2021-2022 to 18.9% in 2025-2026—now below the state average of 17.7% and a nearly 14-point improvement that outpaces the district's own gains. This improvement coincides with the school's best ranking in nearly a decade. The main area of concern is 5th grade, where math proficiency has hovered between 12.5% and 33.3% over the past four years, and science proficiency (26.7%) sits well below the district average (47.1%). Still, with rising investment, improving attendance, and a clear upward trajectory, Argyle is a school making meaningful progress for its students.