Summary:
ZIP code 30127 in Powder Springs, Georgia, is served by nine elementary schools spanning grades PK-5 (with one starting at Kindergarten) across three districts, enrolling roughly 5,700 students in a community with widely varying educational experiences.
Families in this area will find a stark contrast in school quality. Kemp Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking in the 85th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating, strong math proficiency (65-74% across grades), and a low 4.7% chronic absenteeism rate. Vaughan Elementary School is nearly as strong (83rd percentile, 4 stars) and boasts the area's best 5th-grade science scores (62.5% proficient) and lowest absenteeism (3.7%). Still Elementary School rounds out the top tier at the 77th percentile. At the other end, Compton Elementary School ranks in the 11th percentile with a 1-star rating and proficiency rates 30-40 points below district averages, while Miles Ahead Charter School has fallen to the 18th percentile and struggles with a 22.5% chronic absenteeism rate. Bessie L. Baggett Elementary (Paulding County) and Hendricks Elementary School also sit in the bottom quartile.
The data reveals a clear pattern: the top-performing schools have low economic disadvantage (18-32% free/reduced lunch) and low absenteeism (under 6%), while the lowest-performing schools face 46-100% economic disadvantage and absenteeism above 13%. Notably, higher per-student spending does not translate to better outcomes—Compton spends the most ($20,218 per student) yet ranks last, while Kemp spends the least among Cobb County schools ($16,458) and ranks first. Powder Springs Elementary School and Varner Elementary School sit in the middle, with Powder Springs showing slight improvement. For parents, this ZIP code offers excellent options at Kemp, Vaughan, and Still, but also highlights how concentrated poverty and absenteeism create significant achievement gaps just miles apart.
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