Summary:
Zip code 30540 in Ellijay, Georgia, is served by three schools in the Gilmer County district, which holds a 4-star rating and serves roughly 2,645 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Mountain View Elementary is the clear academic leader in this area, ranking in the 63rd percentile statewide and outperforming both the district and state averages across most subjects. Its 5th grade stands out as a particular strength, with math proficiency at 54.2% and science at 54.3%—both more than 10 points above state averages. In contrast, Ellijay Elementary School ranks in the 35th percentile and trails state averages in nearly every subject, despite spending the most per student ($16,125) of the three schools. Both elementary schools serve similar percentages of economically disadvantaged students (roughly 57-60% free/reduced lunch), yet Mountain View outperforms Ellijay by 9-20 percentage points in most subjects, suggesting school-level factors beyond resources drive the difference. Gilmer High School posts an impressive 96.6% graduation rate—nearly 10 points above the state—and shows strong year-over-year improvement across all tested subjects, with US History proficiency (46.7%) exceeding the state by 8.2 points. However, its 20.4% chronic absenteeism rate is well above the state average and roughly double that of Ellijay Elementary (9.8%), a disconnect worth noting given the high graduation rate.
For parents, this area offers a mixed picture: Mountain View Elementary provides strong academics, particularly in 5th grade, while Ellijay Elementary shows persistent challenges. Gilmer High School demonstrates solid graduation outcomes and improving test scores, though attendance remains a concern. The district's 4-star rating reflects these varied performances, with clear opportunities for cross-school learning—especially in how Mountain View achieves its results with similar demographics and lower spending than its elementary counterpart.
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