Best Public Schools in Zip Code 30577

The five schools in zip code 30577, part of the Stephens County School District in Toccoa, Georgia, serve approximately 3,452 students across elementary through high school grades, with a predominantly low-income population where 89-100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Stephens County Middle School stands out as the academic powerhouse, with an extraordinary 86.9% of Algebra I students scoring proficient or above—nearly double the state average of 48.1%—despite 96.7% economic disadvantage. The school also improved its state ranking from the 48th to 60th percentile. Stephens County High School is the rising star, rebounding from the 34th to 43rd percentile while achieving a 96.1% graduation rate that exceeds the state average by nearly nine points. Liberty Elementary School has no current test score data and serves only grades 1-2, making it difficult to assess. Toccoa Elementary School performs near state averages in math, while Stephens County Fifth Grade Academy shows solid math performance with the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 13.1%.

The district shows a clear pattern: strong math and science performance at elementary and middle levels, but significant struggles in social studies and humanities. Eighth-grade science at the middle school (36.4%) far exceeds the state (29.7%), yet social studies proficiency lags by 10+ points. At the high school, US History (24.3%) and American Literature (26.8%) proficiency are dramatically below state averages. The Algebra I gap between middle school (86.9%) and high school (35.1%) suggests the strongest math students are accelerated early. Chronic absenteeism is highest at the middle school (20.4%) and high school (18.6%), potentially impacting performance. Despite economic challenges, the district demonstrates that high-poverty schools can achieve strong outcomes, with favorable student-teacher ratios (12.8-14.3:1) and modest per-student spending ($12,417-$13,650). The district is on an upward trajectory, with improving rankings and notable gains in biology and eighth-grade science.