Summary:
Zip code 30248 in Locust Grove, Georgia, is home to two public high schools—Locust Grove High and Luella High School—serving roughly 2,800 students in grades 9-12 within the Henry County School District.
Both schools share similar demographics and resources, but Locust Grove High consistently edges out Luella High School academically. Locust Grove ranks higher statewide (313th vs. 348th) and posts better proficiency in every tested subject, including Biology (34.9% vs. 32.3%) and Algebra I (18.8% vs. 17.0%). Both schools have nearly identical graduation rates (93.4% and 93.3%), well above the district (89.8%) and state (87.2%) averages, and both have dropout rates of just 1.6%. Per-student spending is comparable (~$12,500-$12,700), as are free/reduced lunch rates (56-58%). The most encouraging trend is dramatic year-over-year improvement: Luella's Biology proficiency nearly doubled (17.2% to 32.3%), and Locust Grove's U.S. History proficiency jumped 12 points. However, both schools trail district and state averages in all subjects, with Algebra I being the biggest gap—roughly 30 points below the state average of 48.1%.
The biggest concern for parents is chronic absenteeism. Locust Grove's rate is 27.2% and Luella's is 23.6%, both well above the district (19.6%) and state (17.7%) averages. Interestingly, Luella has lower absenteeism but lower test scores, suggesting other factors are at play. Both schools are part of a district ranked in the 30th percentile statewide, indicating systemic challenges. While rankings have fluctuated—Luella dropped from the 31st to 24th percentile over three years—the underlying test data shows strong positive momentum. English Language Arts (ELA) scores are not yet available and will be released in December, which will provide a more complete picture of these schools' academic standing.
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