Summary:
ZIP code 30354 is served by four schools—two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—educating roughly 2,483 students across the Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County districts, with every school serving a nearly 100% free/reduced lunch population.
The standout in this area is Hapeville Elementary School, the only Fulton County school in the ZIP code. It earns a 2-star rating and ranks in the 44th percentile statewide, with math proficiency rates of 36-41%—roughly double those of Heritage Academy Elementary School, which ranks in the 13th percentile. Hapeville also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the area at 11.6%, well below the state average of 17.7%, while Heritage Academy struggles at 36.2%. The contrast is striking: Heritage Academy spends the most per student ($30,214) and has the smallest class sizes (7.3:1), yet achieves the lowest results, while Hapeville spends nearly $10,000 less per student and performs far better. This suggests that attendance and school leadership may matter more than funding alone.
The APS schools face significant challenges. Crawford Long Middle School has a chronic absenteeism rate of 48.7% and 8th grade math proficiency of just 21.3% versus the state's 46.3%, with social studies proficiency at only 9.1%. South Atlanta High School shows a mixed profile: its graduation rate of 86.5% nearly matches the state average, but its end-of-course exam scores lag significantly (Algebra I at 29.2% vs. 48.1% statewide), and its absenteeism rate is 48.5%. On a positive note, Heritage Academy is improving—its state ranking jumped from the 4th to the 13th percentile in one year, with 3rd grade math proficiency rising from 14.5% to 25.0%. Overall, addressing chronic absenteeism appears to be the most impactful lever for improving outcomes in this ZIP code.
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