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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.

Walnut Creek Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

971^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,222 Georgia Elementary Schools

Better than 21% of Georgia elementary schools

Summary

Walnut Creek Elementary in McDonough, GA, serves approximately 712 students in grades PK-5 as part of Henry County Schools, and it currently ranks in the lower quarter of Georgia elementary schools (21st percentile statewide).

One of the most pressing challenges at Walnut Creek is chronic absenteeism. In the most recent year, 26.3% of students were chronically absent—far higher than the district rate of 19.6% and the state rate of 17.7%. This pattern stands out sharply when compared to nearby schools: East Lake Elementary has just a 9.5% chronic absenteeism rate and ranks in the 77th percentile, while Timber Ridge Elementary sits at 13.4% and ranks in the 58th percentile. The connection between attendance and achievement is clear in this cluster—schools with lower absenteeism consistently outperform those with higher rates. On a positive note, Walnut Creek showed meaningful improvement in math proficiency in 2025-2026, with 5th grade math nearly doubling from 14% to 28.4% proficient, though this still trails the state average of 44.1%.

Special education outcomes are a critical area of concern, with Walnut Creek's special education students ranking in the bottom 3% statewide—the weakest among comparable schools. However, the school shows relative strength with African American students, who rank in the 40th percentile statewide. Per-student spending has risen to $14,990, which is higher than several better-performing neighbors like Timber Ridge ($13,478) and East Lake ($14,024), suggesting that additional resources alone haven't yet translated into proportional gains. There's also a notable gender gap, with female students ranking in the 27th percentile versus 14th for males. For parents, the most promising lever appears to be improving attendance, which could have a significant impact on academic outcomes given the strong correlation seen across nearby schools.

712

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,990

Per pupil spending ?

74.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3535 McDonough Pkwy
McDonough, GA 30253

(770) 288-8561

District: Henry County

Students who attend Walnut Creek Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	McDonough Middle School
High:	McDonough High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

75.3%

Hispanic:

11.1%

Two or more races:

7.0%

See top rated Georgia elementary schools

Compare Walnut Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 33rd percentile in 2016 → 21st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (28% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (26% vs 18% Georgia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school28%

District avg34%

Georgia avg47%

971^st of 1,222

Georgia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 33% (2016) to bottom 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

20^th of 28Elementary Schools in the Henry County

142^nd of 202Henry 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	21.0	971 of 1222	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.4	989 of 1238	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.3	1070 of 1236	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.4	1008 of 1223	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.5	934 of 1220	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.0	908 of 1214	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.7	862 of 1234	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	19.4	989 of 1209	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	14.6	1052 of 1205	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.4	824 of 1233	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	39.6	734 of 1240	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	57.8	626 of 1231	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	68.1	425 of 1225	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.9	286 of 1201	76.2%	★★★★☆
2011	50.6	704 of 1212	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	56.2	601 of 1183	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	38.2	497 of 829	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.5	556 of 892	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.1	622 of 879	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.7	564 of 870	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.9	471 of 876	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	27.0	868 of 1189	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.3	941 of 1224	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	1048 of 1223	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.2	968 of 1212	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.2	868 of 1206	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2023	30.6	398 of 535	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	17.1	1016 of 1186	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.0	1039 of 1225	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.9	1063 of 1220	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.6	1032 of 1210	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.8	980 of 1209	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	13.1	452 of 466	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	22.3	466 of 565	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.5	389 of 455	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)40th percentile+20 vs school

Female (2026)27th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2023)26th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)14th percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2026)3rd percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Science28%-16 vs state

Mathematics28%-19 vs state

2.8

9 ratings · 6 written reviews

5★4

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★5

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, September 8, 2023

My daughter has been bullied and physically assaulted by other students in this school. This is her second year in this school, and the second year she is being bullied. The lax response from staff, failure to report most incidents to the administration. "You know boys when they have a crush on you." That doesn't give him the right to kick my daughter. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, July 10, 2014

Walnut Creek Elementary School is a warm and inviting place where everyone is greeted with "It's a Great Day at the Creek how can we help you?" And where it is evident that all decisions are based on what is best for kids. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, May 2, 2013

STAFF AND TEACHERS ARE GREAT. THE PRINCIPALS ARE AWESOME AND THE STAFF IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE CHILDREN AND SEEM TO REALLY ENJOY AND TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR JOBS AND THE SCHOOL.
THANKS!!
FROM A PARENT Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, March 11, 2012

The teachers are not doing one-on-one with my child that has learning problems. In afterschool, the kids should be doing homework, as directed by the teachers, and not play until they are done. This is not happening. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, March 11, 2012

by a parent
Saturday, March 10, 2012

Schools Near Walnut Creek Elementary

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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 Mathematics (2026)			Milestones Assessment 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Walnut Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3535 McDonough Pkwy	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 288-8561	712	49	14.5	74.7%	33 (4.6%)	536 (75.3%)	79 (11.1%)	12 (1.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (7.0%)	21	971^st of 1222 public elementary schools	20.5%		20.4	989^th of 1238 public elementary schools	20.1%	18	26.5	29.3	28.4	28.3	$14,990	$1,074	$13,916
Wesley Lakes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	685 McDonough Pkwy	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 914-1889	564	38	15.0	83.3%	8 (1.4%)	463 (82.1%)	52 (9.2%)	6 (1.1%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (5.5%)	11.8	1131^st of 1222 public elementary schools	7.4%		16.6	1058^th of 1238 public elementary schools	14.5%	73	22.1	25.9	17.5	17.5	$14,300	$1,024	$13,276
Birch Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	850 Willow Lane	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(770) 957-6601	745	47	16.0	74.4%	34 (4.6%)	506 (67.9%)	164 (22.0%)	10 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (3.9%)	11.9	1128^th of 1222 public elementary schools	7.7%					(n/a)	23.1	20.7	16.0	23.0	$12,776	$1,016	$11,760
Hickory Flat Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	841 Brannan Rd	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 898-0107	560	38	14.5	65.9%	21 (3.8%)	418 (74.6%)	57 (10.2%)	29 (5.2%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.4%)	30 (5.4%)	17.5	1043^rd of 1222 public elementary schools	14.6%		23.6	951^st of 1238 public elementary schools	23.2%	92	25.7	31.7	24.4	20.7	$13,805	$421	$13,384
East Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	199 E Lake Rd	McDonough	30252	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(678) 583-8947	671	47	14.2	46.3%	162 (24.1%)	338 (50.4%)	76 (11.3%)	40 (6.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (7.9%)	74.5	278^th of 1222 public elementary schools	77.3%		78.7	247^th of 1238 public elementary schools	80.0%	31	64.3	70.9	53.9	46.8	$14,024	$404	$13,619
Flippen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	425 Peach Dr	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(770) 954-3522	559	44	12.6	69.6%	63 (11.3%)	351 (62.8%)	99 (17.7%)	21 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.3%)	25.6	900^th of 1222 public elementary schools	26.4%		38	711^th of 1238 public elementary schools	42.6%	189	36.4	40.9	18.7	24.4	$15,711	$522	$15,188
Oakland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	551 Highway 81 W	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 954-1901	462	32	14.6	76.4%	12 (2.6%)	373 (80.7%)	39 (8.4%)	9 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.1%)	27.3	877^th of 1222 public elementary schools	28.2%		18.9	1017^th of 1238 public elementary schools	17.9%	140	46.8	34.2	20.0	18.4	$17,653	$1,179	$16,474
Timber Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2825 Highway 20 E	McDonough	30252	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(770) 288-3237	713	47	15.1	46.6%	163 (22.9%)	391 (54.8%)	85 (11.9%)	18 (2.5%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	50 (7.0%)	54.6	507^th of 1222 public elementary schools	58.5%		63.6	396^th of 1238 public elementary schools	68.0%	111	33.9	48.5	51.2	51.2	$13,478	$405	$13,073
Pate's Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1309 Jodeco Rd	Stockbridge	30281	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 389-8819	497	33	14.9	67.0%	27 (5.4%)	329 (66.2%)	80 (16.1%)	26 (5.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.8%)	20.2	989^th of 1222 public elementary schools	19.1%		26.6	898^th of 1238 public elementary schools	27.5%	91	26.7	26.3	27.1	28.4	$15,728	$691	$15,036
Pleasant Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	150 Reagan Rd	Stockbridge	30281	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 898-0176	522	36	14.5	73.9%	92 (17.6%)	281 (53.8%)	98 (18.8%)	5 (1.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (8.4%)	33.6	777^th of 1222 public elementary schools	36.4%		28.8	860^th of 1238 public elementary schools	30.5%	83	27.1	22.3	41.1	44.5	$14,265	$652	$13,613

Frequently Asked Questions about Walnut Creek Elementary

How many students attend Walnut Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 712 students attended Walnut Creek Elementary.

What district is Walnut Creek Elementary in?

Henry County

What is the racial makeup of Walnut Creek Elementary?

Students at Walnut Creek Elementary are 75% African American, 11% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 5% White, 2% Asian.

Is Walnut Creek Elementary a good school?

Walnut Creek Elementary ranks in the bottom 20.5% of Georgia elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Walnut Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Walnut Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : McDonough Middle School
High : McDonough High School

Rate Walnut Creek Elementary!

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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.