Summary:
Zip code 30316 in Atlanta, Georgia is home to two elementary schools serving grades PK through 5: Barack H. Obama Elementary Magnet School of Technology in DeKalb County and Burgess-Peterson Elementary School in Atlanta Public Schools, offering families in the same neighborhood two very different educational experiences.
Burgess-Peterson Elementary School is the clear standout, earning a 5-star rating and ranking 118th out of 1,219 elementary schools statewide (90th percentile) for 2025-2026. It dramatically outperforms its district across every subject—for example, 73% of its 5th graders are proficient in math versus 39.3% district-wide. The school also boasts a low 7.5% chronic absenteeism rate, a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio, and higher per-student spending at $24,690. In contrast, Barack H. Obama Elementary Magnet School of Technology holds a 1-star rating, ranking 932nd (24th percentile), with a declining three-year trend. Its proficiency rates lag both its district and the state—only 29.3% of 3rd graders are proficient in math—and it faces a 19.5% chronic absenteeism rate, a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio, and $18,379 per-student spending.
The most striking difference is socioeconomic context: 100% of Obama Magnet students qualify for free/reduced lunch, while Burgess-Peterson's rate is 48.45%. Despite Obama Magnet's greater need, it receives significantly less funding per student. Burgess-Peterson's success relative to its district—outperforming Atlanta Public Schools by 25-35 percentage points—suggests effective strategies worth examining. For parents in 30316, the choice between these two schools is stark, with Burgess-Peterson offering exceptional academics and strong attendance, while Obama Magnet shows pockets of strength (like 4th grade math at 35.9%) but faces systemic challenges that may require additional support to reverse its downward trajectory.
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