Summary:
Zip code 30643 in Hartwell, Georgia, is served by two elementary schools—South Hart Elementary School and Hartwell Elementary School—both part of the Hart County district and both serving grades PK-5 with enrollments of 608 and 566 students, respectively. Every student at both schools qualifies for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a community with high economic need, yet the two schools show notably different academic trajectories.
South Hart Elementary School is the stronger performer, holding a 3-star rating and ranking in the 54th percentile statewide. It outperforms Hartwell Elementary School in nearly every subject and grade level tested. In 4th grade math, South Hart exceeds the state average (59.6% vs. 50.1%) and leads Hartwell by 7.3 points. However, both schools struggle significantly in 5th grade, with math proficiency at 39% and 26.6% respectively—well below the state average of 44.1%—and science scores at 28% and 29.3% versus the state's 44.2%. This sharp drop from 3rd and 4th grade performance suggests a common challenge in upper elementary grades that may warrant targeted intervention.
Chronic absenteeism is a clear bright spot: Hartwell's rate is just 9.6% and South Hart's is 12.0%, both well below the state average of 17.7%. Interestingly, Hartwell Elementary School spends slightly more per student ($13,415 vs. $13,029) yet achieves lower scores, raising questions about resource allocation. While South Hart's ranking has improved over the past two years, Hartwell has steadily declined from the 51st to the 43rd percentile. Both schools fall below district averages in 5th grade math and science, suggesting they could benefit from sharing best practices with higher-performing peers within Hart County.
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