Summary:
ZIP code 30180, encompassing the Villa Rica area, includes 7 schools serving approximately 5,307 students across elementary, middle, and high school grades, spanning the Carroll County, Douglas County, and Paulding County school districts.
The standout school in this area is Bay Springs Middle School, which ranks in the 76th percentile and earned a 4-star rating. It achieved a perfect 100% proficiency rate in both Algebra I and high school Physical Science End of Course exams, far exceeding district and state averages, and outperforms the state in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math. Ithica Elementary is another consistent high performer, maintaining a 4-star rating with strong 3rd grade math (60.4%) and 5th grade science (54.3%) scores, plus the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the area at 10.9%. In contrast, Mirror Lake Elementary School has experienced a dramatic decline, dropping from the 53rd to the 30th percentile and falling from 3 stars to 1 star, with math proficiency below 40% in all grades. Villa Rica High School presents a paradox: it boasts an excellent 96.7% graduation rate but struggles academically, ranking in the 46th percentile with only 25.5% Algebra I proficiency and a 21.3% chronic absenteeism rate—the only school in the area above the state average.
Several patterns emerge across the area. Math proficiency tends to decline from 3rd to 5th grade at most elementary schools, with New Georgia Elementary School showing the steepest drop from 58.1% to 31.3%. Per-student spending does not correlate with performance—New Georgia Elementary School spends the most ($17,638) but ranks in the 53rd percentile, while Ithica Elementary spends less ($12,901) and ranks higher. Science is a relative strength across Carroll County schools, with Villa Rica Elementary School and Ithica Elementary both exceeding state averages in 5th grade science. Villa Rica Elementary School stands out for its stability, maintaining a 3-star rating for three consecutive years. The most urgent concerns are the decline at Mirror Lake Elementary School and the high absenteeism and low math proficiency at Villa Rica High School, suggesting that instructional strategies and attendance initiatives may be more impactful than funding alone.
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