Screven County Elementary School

Screven County Elementary School in Sylvania, GA, serves about 1,005 students in grades PK through 5 and is part of the Screven County district, which ranks in the middle of Georgia districts.

Academically, the school faces real challenges. In the most recent testing cycle, math proficiency lagged state averages by 10 to 22 points depending on grade level, with 4th grade showing the largest gap (27.5% proficient vs. 50.1% statewide). Science scores also trail the state by about 13 points. While 3rd grade math improved from last year, 5th grade math dropped by 7.6 percentage points. Subgroup data shows that all student groups—including White, African American, male, and female students—score in the bottom third of the state, though special education students perform relatively better (41st percentile). Chronic absenteeism affects about 1 in 5 students, which is slightly above the state average but better than some nearby schools.

There are some bright spots. Historical English Language Arts (ELA) data shows 5th grade proficiency improved from 30.6% to 40.3% over two years, nearly closing the gap with the state. Compared to S G A Elementary School (18 miles away), which serves a similarly high-poverty population, Screven County trails in math at every grade level—but S G A spends more than double per student ($26,843 vs. $12,508) and has smaller class sizes. Against Jenkins County Elementary School, Screven County performs better in 5th grade science (31.3% vs. 10.5%) and has lower chronic absenteeism. The school maintains a favorable 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio, but with 81% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and per-student spending below nearby districts, the question of whether current resources are enough to close the achievement gap remains open.