Schools in Zip Code 30705

Schools in zip code 30705 (Chatsworth, GA) include 10 schools—6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools—all part of the Murray County School District, serving roughly 6,521 students in a predominantly low-income area where free/reduced lunch rates range from 83% to 100%.

For parents, the standout school is Northwest Elementary School, the only 4-star school in the area, with remarkable 5th-grade science proficiency (77.2% vs. 44.2% state) and the highest 3rd-grade math scores (67.1% vs. 48.3% state). Chatsworth Elementary School is the most improved, jumping 199 spots in state rankings over two years and posting the best 5th-grade math score (56.6%) among elementary schools. At the middle school level, Bagley Middle School quietly outperforms Gladden Middle School in most subjects, though Gladden reports 100% proficiency in Algebra I (likely a select group of advanced students). Among high schools, North Murray High School has overtaken Murray County High School, exceeding state averages in Algebra I (51.6%) and US History (39.0%), while Murray County HS trails state averages in all subjects. Both high schools boast strong graduation rates (93-94% vs. 87.2% state).

Key challenges include chronic absenteeism, which is highest at the secondary level—Murray County HS (30.0%) and North Murray HS (27.4%) far exceed the state rate (17.7%), while four of six elementary schools are below it. A consistent 5th-grade math dip appears across most elementary schools, with only Chatsworth and Northwest maintaining proficiency above state averages. Per-student spending varies widely ($11,938 to $14,481) with no clear link to outcomes—Woodlawn Elementary School spends the most but ranks mid-pack, while Northwest achieves top results with mid-range spending. Note that the latest release does not include ELA scores for elementary and middle schools; those arrive in December, so comparisons here rely on math, science, and social studies data.