Best Public Schools in Zip Code 30252

ZIP code 30252 in McDonough, Georgia, is served by nine schools within the Henry County School District, including five elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools, educating roughly 9,070 students in a predominantly middle-income area.

For families, the standout elementary option is East Lake Elementary, which earns 4 stars and posts math proficiency rates 25 to 33 points above district averages, while also keeping chronic absenteeism at just 9.5%—half the district rate. In contrast, Tussahaw Elementary struggles significantly, ranking in the bottom 7% of Georgia schools with 5th-grade math proficiency at only 10.9% and the highest poverty rate in the area. Among middle schools, Union Grove Middle is a consistent 4-star performer with exceptional Algebra I proficiency (93.4%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism in the ZIP code at 6.8%, while Ola Middle School also excels with 86.5% Algebra I proficiency. At the high school level, Ola High School outperforms Union Grove High in Algebra I (60.7% vs. 34.6%) and Biology, though Union Grove High shows strength in US History and a strong 94.3% graduation rate.

Key takeaways for parents: chronic absenteeism is a powerful predictor of success—schools below 10% absenteeism consistently outperform those above 15%. East Lake Elementary proves that high achievement is possible even with a 46% free/reduced lunch population, offering a model other schools could replicate. Notably, both middle schools accelerate students into Algebra I, which may skew high school math scores downward since advanced students are removed from that cohort. Per-student spending shows no clear relationship to outcomes, with the lowest-spending school (Union Grove Middle) among the best performers. While the district overall ranks in the 30th percentile, the presence of multiple 4-star schools in this ZIP code demonstrates that strong educational outcomes are achievable here, making school choice within the area particularly impactful.