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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.

South Effingham Elementary School

Q: Is South Effingham Elementary School a good school?

South Effingham Elementary School ranks 129 th of 1222 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

129^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,222 Georgia Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of Georgia elementary schools

Summary

South Effingham Elementary School in Guyton, GA, serves 863 students in Pre-K through 5th grade and is part of the highly-rated Effingham County school district, which ranks in the 90th percentile statewide. The school has earned a 4- or 5-star rating for eight of the past ten years, never dropping below the 87th percentile, and currently ranks 129th out of 1,219 Georgia elementary schools.

South Effingham stands out for its exceptional math performance. In 2025-2026, 71.1% of 3rd graders, 71.7% of 4th graders, and 65% of 5th graders scored proficient in math—roughly 20 to 25 percentage points above state averages. The school also shines in 5th grade science, with 69.2% proficiency versus 44.2% statewide. Perhaps most impressive is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of just 6.0%, less than half the district average (12.9%) and one-third of the state average (17.7%), a pattern that has held for five straight years. While current ELA scores are not yet available, historical data shows strong literacy outcomes, particularly in 4th grade, where proficiency has run 20+ points above state averages.

Compared to nearby schools, South Effingham outperforms its local peers. It ranks above all other Effingham County elementary schools like Sand Hill Elementary School, Rincon Elementary School, Marlow Elementary School, and Blandford Elementary School, all of which rank in the 78th-83rd percentile. The gap is even wider versus Savannah-Chatham County schools like Bloomingdale Elementary School and West Chatham Elementary School, which rank in the 24th-48th percentile. Notably, South Effingham achieves these results while spending less per student ($14,355) than many lower-performing neighbors, and it serves all student groups well—Hispanic students rank in the 96th percentile statewide and African American students in the 93rd percentile. The school's only relative soft spot is 5th grade math, but even that remains nearly 21 points above the state average.

863

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,355

Per pupil spending ?

33.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

767 Kolic Helmey Rd
Guyton, GA 31312

(912) 728-3801

District: Effingham County

Students who attend South Effingham Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	South Effingham Middle School
High:	South Effingham High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.4%

Hispanic:

13.6%

African American:

13.4%

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Compare South Effingham Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 88th percentile in 2016 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Georgia average (69% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Georgia elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Effingham County

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school69%

District avg59%

Georgia avg47%

129^th of 1,222

Georgia public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 8Elementary Schools in the Effingham County

21^st of 202Effingham 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	89.8	129 of 1222	89.4%	★★★★☆
2025	91.7	111 of 1238	91.0%	★★★★★
2024	90.5	128 of 1236	89.6%	★★★★☆
2023	86.6	164 of 1223	86.6%	★★★★☆
2022	91.7	109 of 1220	91.1%	★★★★★
2021	93.7	82 of 1214	93.2%	★★★★★
2019	93.2	79 of 1234	93.6%	★★★★★
2018	91.2	97 of 1209	92.0%	★★★★★
2017	92.4	84 of 1205	93.0%	★★★★★
2016	85.3	153 of 1233	87.6%	★★★★☆
2015	81.5	193 of 1240	84.4%	★★★★☆
2014	83.9	94 of 1231	92.4%	★★★★★
2013	84.2	97 of 1225	92.1%	★★★★★
2012	83.5	115 of 1201	90.4%	★★★★★
2011	87.9	44 of 1212	96.4%	★★★★★
2010	87.2	70 of 1183	94.1%	★★★★★
2009	90.6	31 of 1133	97.3%	★★★★★
2008	88.4	58 of 1134	94.9%	★★★★★
2007	88.9	51 of 1125	95.5%	★★★★★
2006	85.2	88 of 1101	92.0%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	91.5	54 of 829	93.5%	★★★★★
2025	89.3	65 of 892	92.7%	★★★★★
2024	87.0	80 of 879	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	63.7	245 of 870	71.8%	★★★★☆
2022	81.2	123 of 876	86.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	89.6	123 of 1189	89.7%	★★★★☆
2025	91.4	99 of 1224	91.9%	★★★★★
2024	89.8	127 of 1223	89.6%	★★★★☆
2023	84.0	184 of 1212	84.8%	★★★★☆
2022	92.0	96 of 1206	92.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	92.9	21 of 504	95.8%	★★★★★
2025	91.8	32 of 583	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	94.7	24 of 565	95.8%	★★★★★
2023	93.0	22 of 535	95.9%	★★★★★
2022	88.5	37 of 516	92.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	87.9	143 of 1186	87.9%	★★★★☆
2025	89.4	125 of 1225	89.8%	★★★★☆
2024	88.8	141 of 1220	88.4%	★★★★☆
2023	86.9	150 of 1210	87.6%	★★★★☆
2022	89.7	115 of 1209	90.5%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	81.8	68 of 466	85.4%	★★★★☆
2025	77.6	83 of 565	85.3%	★★★★☆
2024	86.6	45 of 487	90.8%	★★★★★
2023	72.5	79 of 455	82.6%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	60 of 415	85.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	78.8	151 of 703	78.5%	★★★★☆
2025	81.3	131 of 769	83.0%	★★★★☆
2024	82.9	110 of 772	85.8%	★★★★☆
2023	74.0	193 of 775	75.1%	★★★★☆
2022	83.0	117 of 779	85.0%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)96th percentile+6 vs school

African American (2026)93rd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)90th percentile~ school

Male (2026)88th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)85th percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)79th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Science69%+25 vs state

Mathematics69%+22 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Effingham 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
South Effingham Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	767 Kolic Helmey Rd	Guyton	31312	Effingham County	Effingham County	No	No	No	No	(912) 728-3801	863	64	13.5	33.4%	521 (60.4%)	116 (13.4%)	117 (13.6%)	54 (6.3%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	51 (5.9%)	89.8	129^th of 1222 public elementary schools	89.4%		91.7	111^th of 1238 public elementary schools	91.0%	18		71.1	71.7	65.0				69.2				$14,355	$300	$14,055
Godley Station School	Public	PK, KG-8	2135 Benton Blvd	Savannah	31407	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	No	(912) 395-6000	1,585	107	14.8	60.8%	295 (18.6%)	734 (46.3%)	303 (19.1%)	130 (8.2%)	8 (0.5%)	10 (0.6%)	105 (6.6%)	43.8	635^th of 1222 public elementary schools	48.0%		39.4	697^th of 1238 public elementary schools	43.7%	62	100.0	42.8	40.0	39.9	31.3	25.9	33.9	44.9	13.5	40.0	87.8	$15,372	$1,042	$14,330
Blandford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4650 McCall Rd	Rincon	31326	Effingham County	Effingham County	No	No	No	No	(912) 826-4200	987	72	13.6	50.9%	505 (51.2%)	221 (22.4%)	159 (16.1%)	35 (3.5%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	64 (6.5%)	81.4	209^th of 1222 public elementary schools	82.9%		83	200^th of 1238 public elementary schools	83.8%	9		56.1	67.4	64.6				61.7				$14,089	$297	$13,792
Marlow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5160 Ga Highway 17 S	Guyton	31312	Effingham County	Effingham County	No	No	No	No	(912) 728-3262	670	59	11.3	46.1%	488 (72.8%)	57 (8.5%)	85 (12.7%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	29 (4.3%)	75.4	268^th of 1222 public elementary schools	78.1%		86.5	166^th of 1238 public elementary schools	86.6%	102		57.3	65.4	58.6				50.8				$18,049	$308	$17,741
Rice Creek School	Public	PK, KG-8	100 Mulberry Ave	Port Wentworth	31407	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-4100	1,011	74	13.6	74.6%	115 (11.4%)	599 (59.2%)	209 (20.7%)	22 (2.2%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	61 (6.0%)	43.3	638^th of 1222 public elementary schools	47.8%		35.1	751^st of 1238 public elementary schools	39.3%	113		41.9	54.9	36.4	23.7	28.3	30.8	39.1	30.9	17.2		$16,552	$1,604	$14,948
Pooler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	308 Holly Ave	Pooler	31322	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	No	(912) 395-3625	340	31	11.1	85.6%	99 (29.1%)	122 (35.9%)	88 (25.9%)	9 (2.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.2%)	27.6	870^th of 1222 public elementary schools	28.8%		26.3	902^nd of 1238 public elementary schools	27.1%	32		35.8	35.8	24.6				32.8				$20,367	$1,493	$18,874
Sand Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	199 Stagecoach Ave	Guyton	31312	Effingham County	Effingham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 728-5112	881	69	12.8	50.3%	666 (75.6%)	55 (6.2%)	92 (10.4%)	5 (0.6%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	57 (6.5%)	78.9	232^nd of 1222 public elementary schools	81.0%		79.8	237^th of 1238 public elementary schools	80.9%	5		64.7	55.7	53.5				71.0				$15,834	$523	$15,311
Rincon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1703 Fort Howard Road	Rincon	31326	Effingham County	Effingham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 826-5523	1,033	72	14.2	57.1%	526 (50.9%)	243 (23.5%)	134 (13.0%)	28 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	99 (9.6%)	79.4	226^th of 1222 public elementary schools	81.5%		83.5	195^th of 1238 public elementary schools	84.2%	31		71.1	58.6	56.2				57.5				$14,605	$617	$13,988
West Chatham Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Pine Barren Rd	Pooler	31322	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	No	(912) 395-3600	796	54	14.6	77.0%	118 (14.8%)	466 (58.5%)	117 (14.7%)	23 (2.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	69 (8.7%)	40.9	661^st of 1222 public elementary schools	45.9%		32	808^th of 1238 public elementary schools	34.7%	147		40.4	39.5	39.0				40.0				$16,853	$1,507	$15,346
Bloomingdale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	101 E. Main Street	Bloomingdale	31302	Chatham County	Savannah-Chatham County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 395-3680	350	31	11.2	76.0%	156 (44.6%)	80 (22.9%)	88 (25.1%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.3%)	37.8	702^nd of 1222 public elementary schools	42.6%		39.8	688^th of 1238 public elementary schools	44.4%	14		32.7	41.5	39.6				39.5				$24,483	$2,617	$21,867

Frequently Asked Questions about South Effingham Elementary School

Is South Effingham Elementary School a good school?

South Effingham Elementary School ranks 129^th of 1222 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend South Effingham Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 863 students attended South Effingham Elementary School.

What district is South Effingham Elementary School in?

Effingham County

What schools do graduates of South Effingham Elementary School attend?

Students who attend South Effingham Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : South Effingham Middle School
High : South Effingham High School

What is the racial makeup of South Effingham Elementary School?

Students at South Effingham Elementary School are 60% White, 14% Hispanic, 13% African American, 6% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)Aug 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.