Hicks Elementary School

Hicks Elementary School in Conyers, GA, serves approximately 878 students in grades PK-5 as part of Rockdale County Public Schools, and it has seen its statewide ranking fall from the 65th percentile a decade ago to the 16th percentile today, placing it in the bottom fifth of elementary schools in Georgia.

One of the most pressing challenges at Hicks is chronic absenteeism. In the most recent school year, 30.3% of students were chronically absent—meaning they missed a significant number of school days. While this is an improvement from 34.1% two years ago, it remains nearly double the state average of 17.7% and is higher than nearby House Elementary (23.4%) and Pine Street Elementary (24.1%). This attendance gap likely disrupts learning, and it’s a key area where improvement could make a big difference. On a positive note, the school has shown some bright spots: fifth-grade science proficiency (28.3%) is close to the district average, and in the prior year, Hicks actually outperformed the district in science. Third-grade math (25.6%) also beats several nearby schools, including Pine Street (15%) and Shoal Creek Elementary (18.1%).

However, math proficiency declines sharply by fifth grade, where only 19.6% of students are proficient compared to the state average of 44.1%. The school also serves a student population where 95% qualify for free or reduced lunch, a figure that has risen steadily. Per-student spending has increased to $16,673, which is higher than several peers like Peek's Chapel Elementary ($15,212) and Shoal Creek ($14,977), yet outcomes haven’t improved proportionally. While Hicks outranks Hightower Trail Elementary and Shoal Creek, it trails Honey Creek Elementary in both math and science. The path forward likely involves tackling attendance, supporting Hispanic and special education students, and building on the school’s relative strengths in science.