Glanton Elementary

Glanton Elementary in Grantville, GA, is a small PK-5 school serving 271 students in the Coweta County district, and it has become one of the area's most impressive turnaround stories.

Over the past three years, Glanton has climbed from a 1-star rating to a 3-star rating, jumping from the 20th percentile statewide to the 62nd percentile. The most striking gains are in early-grade math: 3rd grade proficiency more than doubled from 27% to 55.5%, and 4th grade math now sits at 65.9%—both well above state averages and even surpassing several nearby schools like Welch Elementary and Atkinson Elementary, which serve similar student populations. The school also stands out for its strong results with male students, ranking in the 67th percentile statewide for that group. Chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically from 24.8% to 14.0%, now better than both the district and state averages. With a low student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1 and a higher per-student investment of $19,595, Glanton appears to be putting resources where they matter most—early foundational learning.

However, there is a clear challenge ahead. While 3rd and 4th graders thrive, 5th grade math proficiency falls to just 30.5%, far below the district's 52% and the state's 44.1%. Science scores in 5th grade show a similar dip. This pattern suggests that as students approach middle school, they may need additional support to maintain the strong gains made in earlier grades. Still, Glanton's trajectory is remarkable—especially when compared to schools like Ruth Hill Elementary, which spends a similar amount per student but ranks lower. For parents, Glanton offers a compelling mix of small classes, rising achievement, and a clear focus on improvement, even as it works to close the gap in upper elementary grades.