Hollydale Elementary School

Hollydale Elementary School in Marietta, GA, serves approximately 526 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Cobb County School District. The school has a very low student-teacher ratio of 8.8:1 and spends $22,472 per student—among the highest in the area—yet its overall state ranking places it in the bottom quartile of Georgia elementary schools.

In the most recent testing cycle, math proficiency at Hollydale ranged from 23.3% in 5th grade to 32.1% in 4th grade, well below district averages of 52.8%–56.7% and state averages of 44.1%–50.1%. Fifth-grade science proficiency was 21.5%, compared to 47.1% district-wide. The school shows a pattern of declining performance as students advance: 3rd graders hit 27% math proficiency, but 5th graders fell to 23.3%. Notably, African American students at Hollydale rank in the 47th percentile statewide—a bright spot—while Hispanic students rank in the 7th percentile, and female students (12th percentile) lag behind male students (20th percentile).

There are encouraging signs. Chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically from 30.4% in 2021-2022 to 11.9% in 2025-2026, now better than the district (14.2%) and state (17.7%) averages. This improvement suggests family engagement efforts are working. However, the contrast with Cheatham Hill Elementary, just 2.78 miles away, is stark: Cheatham Hill ranks in the 77th percentile with math proficiency roughly double Hollydale's, despite serving a more affluent population (41.5% free/reduced lunch vs. 100% at Hollydale) and spending less per student ($16,170). Hollydale also trails Milford Elementary in 3rd and 4th grade math, showing that high poverty doesn't have to limit achievement. The school's strong resources, attendance gains, and success with African American students provide foundations to build on, but targeted interventions are needed—especially for Hispanic students, English Language Learners, and upper-grade math and science.