Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 30260

Zip code 30260, covering Morrow and Lake City in Clayton County, Georgia, is served by six elementary schools within the Clayton County district, all of which serve grades PK through 5 and report 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility, reflecting a universally high-poverty student population.

Morrow Elementary School is the clear standout, jumping 279 ranking spots to a 2-star rating with the cluster’s best math scores—46.4% proficiency in 3rd grade, nearly matching the state average—and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 12.1%, less than half the district rate. It also has the highest per-student spending ($18,931) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (11.9:1). William M. McGarrah Elementary School is the second strongest, earning a 2-star rating with consistent performance across grades, including 38.9% proficiency in 5th grade math—15 points above the district average—and strong 4th grade math at 39.6%. Lake City Elementary School excels in early grades, posting the best 3rd grade math in the cluster at 39.3% and the second-lowest absenteeism at 18.4%. At the other end, Tara Elementary School struggles most, with 31.5% chronic absenteeism and the lowest 5th grade math (14.3%) and science (17.9%) scores, while Haynie Elementary School and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School sit in the middle, with Thurgood Marshall showing a notable strength in 5th grade science at 35.3%.

Across the board, most schools improved dramatically in 3rd grade math from the prior year—Thurgood Marshall jumped 18.2 points, Morrow 14.5, and McGarrah 13.8—suggesting recent interventions are working. However, a clear pattern emerges: schools with lower chronic absenteeism consistently outperform those with higher rates, and resource disparities are significant, with Morrow spending $3,595 more per student than Thurgood Marshall. While all schools remain below state averages in most subjects, the year-over-year gains and Morrow’s near-state-average math performance show that high-poverty schools here can achieve meaningful success with strong attendance and targeted support.