Summary:
Zip code 30518, covering the Buford and Sugar Hill areas of Georgia, is home to two public high schools serving grades 9-12: Buford High School and Lanier High School, which together enroll nearly 3,900 students.
Buford High School is the clear academic standout, earning a 5-star rating and ranking 23rd in the state (95th percentile). It outperforms state averages by wide margins—76.7% proficiency in Algebra I versus 48.1% statewide, and 79.7% in Biology versus 47.2% statewide. Buford also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 9.7% and benefits from being in the top-ranked Buford City district (2nd in Georgia). In contrast, Lanier High School holds a solid 4-star rating and ranks 104th (77th percentile). While its test scores trail Buford significantly—45.8% in Algebra I and 59.0% in Biology—Lanier actually posts a higher graduation rate (94.8% vs. 93.3%) and a lower dropout rate (0.8% vs. 1.1%).
The most striking difference is chronic absenteeism: Lanier’s rate of 25.1% is more than double Buford’s 9.7% and well above the state average of 17.7%, yet Lanier still graduates students at a strong rate. Lanier also showed meaningful improvement in Algebra I, jumping 8.4 percentage points year-over-year. Both schools spend similarly per student (about $13,300–$13,900) and have nearly identical student-teacher ratios, suggesting the performance gap stems from factors beyond funding. Lanier serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (45% vs. 35% at Buford), which may contribute to the differences. Notably, both schools excel in Biology relative to their districts and the state. Families in this zip code have a clear choice: Buford for top-tier academic proficiency and consistency, or Lanier for strong graduation outcomes and upward momentum in math.
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