Summary:
Zip code 30666, encompassing the city of Statham, Georgia, is home to two elementary schools—Statham Elementary School and Dove Creek Elementary School—serving grades PK-5, and offering a striking contrast in academic performance, demographics, and district resources.
For parents, the most important takeaway is the significant performance gap between the two schools. Dove Creek Elementary School is a standout, ranking in the top 5% of Georgia elementary schools (49th out of 1,219) with a 5-star rating. Its students achieve roughly 85% proficiency in math and 67% in science, far exceeding state averages. In contrast, Statham Elementary School holds a 2-star rating, ranking in the 32nd percentile, with math proficiency around 35% and science at 32%. This disparity is closely tied to district affiliation: Dove Creek belongs to the highly-ranked Oconee County district (3rd out of 201), while Statham is part of Barrow County (99th). Socioeconomic factors also play a role, with 62.8% of Statham students qualifying for free/reduced lunch versus just 14.7% at Dove Creek.
Interestingly, Statham Elementary actually spends more per student ($16,145) than Dove Creek ($14,110), yet achieves lower scores—highlighting that funding alone doesn't drive outcomes. Attendance is another differentiator: chronic absenteeism is 9.0% at Statham versus just 3.3% at Dove Creek, though both are better than the state average of 17.7%. The performance gap is consistent over time, not a one-year fluke. Note that the latest 2025-2026 release excludes ELA scores (due in December); the most recent ELA data shows the same pattern, with Dove Creek at 72-80% proficiency versus Statham's 30-37%. For parents, Dove Creek offers top-tier academics, while Statham serves a more diverse, lower-income population with solid but average results.
Thank you for your feedback!