Westside Elementary School

Westside Elementary School in Warner Robins, GA, serves approximately 543 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Houston County school district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Westside currently ranks in the bottom quartile of Georgia elementary schools, sitting at the 10th percentile statewide—a slight dip from last year. Test scores in math and science are significantly below district and state averages. For example, only 17.7% of 5th graders are proficient in math, compared to 48.5% across the district, and 5th grade science proficiency is 21.5% versus 48.5% districtwide. The school has earned a 1-star rating for nine consecutive years. However, there is a notable bright spot: chronic absenteeism dropped dramatically from 26.0% to 16.8% in one year, now below the state average of 17.7%. This improvement in attendance could be a leading indicator of future academic gains. Additionally, while current English Language Arts (ELA) scores are not yet available, past data showed modest gains in 4th and 5th grade ELA proficiency between 2022 and 2024.

Compared to nearby schools, Westside’s performance is notably lower than some peers serving similar demographics. Russell Elementary, just 1.89 miles away and also with 100% free/reduced lunch, ranks at the 66th percentile with proficiency rates roughly double Westside’s. Parkwood Elementary, less than half a mile away, has shown improvement, jumping from the 13th to 32nd percentile in one year. Westside’s per-student spending of $15,014 is actually higher than several better-performing nearby schools, including Eagle Springs ($13,813) and Quail Run ($13,171), suggesting that additional resources alone haven’t yet translated into higher achievement. The contrast with Russell Elementary—serving an identical poverty demographic yet achieving far better outcomes—indicates that factors beyond funding, such as instructional strategies or school climate, may hold the key to improvement.