Summary:
There are three elementary schools serving zip code 30106 in Austell, Georgia, all part of the Cobb County school district, and all serving grades PK through 5 with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Clarkdale Elementary School is the clear standout in this cluster, ranking highest at 595th in the state with a 3-star rating. It leads its peers in 3rd grade math (54% proficient vs. 35% at Sanders Elementary School and 31.3% at Austell Elementary School), has the lowest chronic absenteeism at 17.0%, and achieves these results despite spending the least per student ($17,694) and having the largest class sizes (13.1:1). Austell Elementary School shows the most volatility, dropping over 200 ranking positions from 592nd to 804th in one year, yet it posted the strongest 4th grade math score among the three (46.8% proficient). Sanders Elementary School has been the most consistent but at a lower level, ranking in the 2-star range for three consecutive years while spending $20,076 per student and having the highest chronic absenteeism at 20.8%.
All three schools trail district averages in most subjects, with the largest gaps in 4th grade math where the district average is 56.7% but these schools range from 29.1% to 46.8%. The data reveals that spending does not correlate with outcomes—Austell spends the most ($21,767) with the smallest classes (10.7:1) yet ranks lowest, while Clarkdale spends the least and achieves the best results. Grade-level performance is also inconsistent within each school, suggesting teacher-level effects or cohort differences rather than systemic strengths. Chronic absenteeism is a significant challenge, with two of three schools exceeding the state average of 17.7%. For parents, Clarkdale appears to offer the strongest overall academic environment, while Sanders and Austell present more challenges despite comparable or greater resources.
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