Russell Elementary School

Russell Elementary School in Smyrna, GA, serves approximately 568 students in Pre-K through 5th grade within the Cobb County School District. The school has ranked in the lower third of elementary schools statewide for the past decade, currently sitting at the 26th percentile, with a student body where nearly 95% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch—a sharp increase from about 71% just two years ago.

Academically, Russell trails district and state averages significantly in math and science. For example, only 27.1% of 3rd graders were proficient in math, compared to 53.6% district-wide. However, there are bright spots: 5th grade math proficiency jumped from 25.3% to 36% in one year, and African American students at Russell rank in the 66th percentile statewide—a relative strength. The most pressing concern is the school’s support for English Language Learners, who rank last in the entire state, and Hispanic students, who rank in the 8th percentile. Chronic absenteeism sits at 18.2%, higher than the district average but improving from the prior year.

Compared to nearby schools, the picture is mixed. King Springs Elementary, just 2.6 miles away, ranks in the 84th percentile with far lower poverty rates and only 6.4% chronic absenteeism. Yet Milford Elementary, with a similarly high poverty rate (98.97%), achieves 52.9% proficiency in 3rd grade math—nearly double Russell’s rate. Russell spends more per student ($19,402) than higher-performing neighbors like Nickajack Elementary ($14,196), suggesting that funding alone isn’t the issue. The school’s favorable 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio and improving 5th grade results indicate that targeted interventions, especially for ELL and Hispanic students, could make a meaningful difference.