Summary:
Zip code 30153, encompassing the Rockmart, Georgia area, is served by five public schools—three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—that together educate roughly 3,721 students across two different districts: Polk County and Paulding County.
The standout school in this zip code is Sara M. Ragsdale Elementary, the only school with a 3-star rating. It leads the area in elementary math proficiency across all grade levels, with 4th grade math at 51.4%—nearly double the rate at Van Wert Elementary School (25.9%) and well above Eastside Elementary School (42%). Notably, Ragsdale achieves these results despite having the highest chronic absenteeism rate (22.7%) in the zip code, while Eastside has the lowest (12.7%) but only middling performance. Rockmart Middle School shows the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 33rd to the 44th percentile in state rankings over the past year, with math proficiency rising as students advance (24.7% in 6th grade to 40.2% in 8th grade). However, its 8th grade Social Studies proficiency (13.2%) trails the state average (40.2%) by a staggering 27 points. Rockmart High School excels at keeping students on track, with a 93.5% graduation rate and a 1.5% dropout rate—both better than state averages—even though its test scores lag, particularly in U.S. History (20.6% vs. 38.5% statewide).
Families should note the stark district divide: Ragsdale (Paulding County) outperforms all Polk County schools despite serving a similar poverty demographic, while Van Wert—with 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility and the lowest student-teacher ratio (12.6:1)—produces the weakest outcomes despite relatively high per-student spending ($13,559). Eastside shows a concerning math decline from 3rd to 5th grade (44.7% to 24%). Overall, this zip code offers a mix of trajectories, with Ragsdale as the clear academic leader, Rockmart Middle on the rise, and high school graduation rates a genuine strength.
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