Summary:
Zip code 30531 in Cornelia, Georgia, is served by two elementary schools—Level Grove Elementary School and Cornelia Elementary School—both part of the Habersham County School District, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 72nd percentile statewide. These schools serve grades PK through 5 and collectively enroll about 1,082 students, with both campuses facing significant socioeconomic challenges as indicated by free/reduced lunch rates of 96% and 100%.
There is a stark contrast between the two schools. Level Grove Elementary School is the clear standout, maintaining a 3-star rating for three consecutive years and outperforming both district and state averages in most subjects and grade levels. For example, in 3rd grade math, Level Grove's proficiency rate is 53.6% compared to the state average of 48.3%, while Cornelia Elementary School sits at just 25.6%—a 28-point gap. Level Grove also boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 7.0%, less than half the state average of 17.7%, while Cornelia's rate is 12.3%. Both schools have nearly identical per-student spending (around $15,100) and similar student-teacher ratios (about 12:1), yet their outcomes diverge sharply, suggesting that factors like school culture and instructional quality—not just funding—drive the difference.
Encouragingly, Cornelia Elementary School is showing significant improvement, with 3rd grade math proficiency jumping 14 points year-over-year (from 11.6% to 25.6%) and 5th grade science improving by 8.8 points. Meanwhile, Level Grove Elementary School faces a 5th grade challenge, with math proficiency dropping 11.4 points and science dropping 8.5 points, even as its lower grades remain stable. For parents, this means Level Grove offers strong early-grade academics and excellent attendance, while Cornelia, though still in the bottom quartile, is on an upward trajectory that may signal meaningful gains in the coming years.
Thank you for your feedback!