Summary:
Zip code 30040 in Cumming, Georgia, is home to six elementary schools serving grades PK through 5, all part of the highly regarded Forsyth County School District, which ranks in the top 4% of Georgia districts.
For parents, the standout choice is New Hope Elementary School, which leads the group with a 97th percentile state ranking, exceptional math proficiency rates (83-85% across grades), and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 5.2%. It achieves these results while spending the least per student, making it both the highest-performing and most efficient school in the area. At the other end, Cumming Elementary School is the clear outlier, ranking 66th percentile with math proficiency rates roughly 20-30 points below the district average. Despite receiving the highest per-student funding ($17,338) and having the lowest student-teacher ratio (11.5:1), it serves a significantly more economically disadvantaged population (nearly 60% free/reduced lunch) and has the highest absenteeism rate (12.5%). The other four schools cluster in the top 13% statewide: Vickery Creek Elementary School (93rd percentile) shows the biggest improvement over three years, Kelly Mill Elementary (91st percentile) has a notable 19-point drop from 3rd to 5th grade math, George W. Whitlow Elementary (88th percentile) excels in science, and Sawnee Elementary School (87th percentile) performs solidly across subjects.
Key takeaways: all six schools exceed state averages, but a stark socioeconomic divide correlates with performance—Cumming's higher poverty rate and absenteeism track with lower scores, while higher spending does not automatically translate to better outcomes. Attendance appears to be a strong lever for success, and New Hope demonstrates that excellence can be achieved efficiently.
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