Summary:
Zip code 30294 in Ellenwood, Georgia is home to two public high schools serving grades 9-12—Morrow High School and Cedar Grove High School—which together educate roughly 3,200 students across two different counties, with both schools serving student populations where 100% qualify for free or reduced lunch.
For families comparing the two schools, the most striking difference is in graduation outcomes versus resources. Morrow High School posts a 92.0% graduation rate—nearly five points above the state average—despite spending only $12,665 per student and carrying a higher student-teacher ratio of 19.9:1. In contrast, Cedar Grove High School spends 50% more per student ($18,965) and enjoys a better 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio, yet its graduation rate trails at 82.7% and its dropout rate (3.7%) is higher than the state average. Academically, the schools trade leads: Cedar Grove outperforms in Algebra I (29.3% vs. 22.1%) and U.S. History (21.5% vs. 18.5%), while Morrow leads in Biology (24.5% vs. 19.8%). Both schools improved in Algebra I and Biology year-over-year, with Cedar Grove showing particularly strong gains in Biology (+7.5 points).
The most pressing concern for both schools is chronic absenteeism, which exceeds 40% at each—more than double the state average of 17.7%. This challenge is especially notable given that Clayton County (Morrow's district) ranks 163rd and DeKalb County (Cedar Grove's district) ranks 136th among Georgia's 201 districts. Despite these hurdles, Morrow stands out as a relative bright spot within its district, exceeding Clayton County's average graduation rate by nearly six points. Cedar Grove has also shown remarkable improvement in its state ranking, jumping from the 9th percentile to the 17th percentile over three years. For parents, the choice comes down to priorities: Morrow offers stronger graduation outcomes and lower dropout rates, while Cedar Grove provides smaller classes, more funding per student, and better Algebra I results.
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