Taylor County Elementary

Taylor County Elementary in Butler, GA, serves 244 students in grades 3 through 5 and is part of the Taylor County district, which ranks in the 39th percentile statewide. The school has earned a two-star rating and sits in the 36th percentile of Georgia elementary schools, showing steady improvement from a low point in 2019 when it ranked in the 18th percentile.

One of the school's clear strengths is 5th-grade science, where 44.2% of students scored proficient in the most recent year—exactly matching the state average and far outpacing nearby Hunt Elementary School (18.3%) and Crawford County Elementary (32.8%). Fourth-grade math is another relative bright spot, with 40.5% proficiency, beating both comparable schools. The school also earns a 3-star rating for its work with special education students, ranking in the 54th percentile statewide—a notable contrast to its overall rating. Additionally, the school spends $17,843 per student, more than any nearby school, and maintains a favorable 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio.

However, there are concerns. Chronic absenteeism jumped from 15.1% to 20.9% in the latest year, now above both district and state averages. Math performance fluctuates significantly across grade levels and years, suggesting student success may depend heavily on the specific cohort or teacher. While math shows some resilience, literacy remains a major area of need, with 3rd-grade ELA proficiency dropping to just 13.4% in the most recent year. Despite these challenges, the school consistently outperforms Crawford County Elementary in both math and science—for example, nearly tripling its 5th-grade math proficiency rate—making it a relative academic leader in its immediate area. The upward trajectory over the past several years, despite high poverty levels, suggests recent school-wide efforts may be gaining traction.