Best Public Schools in Zip Code 30038

ZIP code 30038 in Lithonia, Georgia is served by 9 schools in the DeKalb County School District, including 6 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools, enrolling approximately 6,649 students in a predominantly high-need area where most schools report near-universal free/reduced lunch eligibility.

There is a dramatic divide in performance across this ZIP code. Arabia Mountain High School is the clear standout, earning a 3-star rating with a 100% graduation rate, 58.4% proficiency in American Literature, and chronic absenteeism of just 15.3%—a stark contrast to Martin Luther King, Jr. High School, which has an 85.9% graduation rate, only 17.6% proficiency in American Literature, and a staggering 56.7% chronic absenteeism rate. At the elementary level, Edward L. Bouie, Sr. Elementary School leads with a 3-star rating, 53.3% proficiency in 5th grade Science, and an exceptional 5.7% chronic absenteeism rate—the lowest in the entire ZIP code. Leadership Preparatory Academy also performs well above expectations, achieving a 2-star rating and strong test scores while spending the least per student ($14,747).

However, most schools in this area struggle significantly. Salem Middle School ranks in the 5th percentile with math proficiency as low as 4.6% in 7th grade, while Fairington Elementary School and Flat Rock Elementary School sit in the bottom 10% of Georgia schools. Notably, spending does not predict success—Browns Mill Elementary School spends the most ($21,882 per student) yet ranks in the 10th percentile, while Bouie and Leadership Prep achieve far better results with less. The most promising lever for improvement appears to be attendance: the highest-performing schools all have chronic absenteeism rates well below the state average of 17.7%, while struggling schools like Murphey Candler Elementary School (30.9%) and MLK Jr. High (56.7%) face severe attendance challenges that likely drive their academic outcomes.