Summary:
Zip code 30730 is home to a single school, Lyerly Elementary School, a PK-8 school in the Chattooga County district serving 335 students in a predominantly low-income area, where nearly 87% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Lyerly Elementary is a school showing clear signs of upward momentum, even though it currently holds a 1-star rating. Its state ranking has improved for three consecutive years, moving from 910th to 869th place. The most striking bright spot is chronic absenteeism: at just 3.1%, the rate is nearly six times better than both the district (18.2%) and state (17.7%) averages — an exceptional achievement for any school, let alone one with such high economic need. Academically, the school demonstrates a distinct upper-grade strength pattern. In 2025-2026, 8th grade math proficiency hit 54.2%, surpassing the state average by nearly 8 points and outpacing the district by a remarkable 23.4 points. Seventh grade math also edged past the state average, and 8th grade science exceeded it by 7.4 points. Meanwhile, the lower grades posted dramatic year-over-year math gains: 4th grade jumped 11 points, 5th grade rose 9.7 points, and 3rd grade improved 3.9 points, suggesting recent instructional changes are taking hold.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. Lower-grade math proficiency still trails the state by 17 to 22 points, and 5th grade science lags by 22 points. Eighth grade social studies is the weakest subject at 22.8% proficiency, a 17.4-point deficit from the state. However, Lyerly outperforms its district in every subject and grade tested, and the combination of rising rankings, strong attendance, and significant academic improvements — particularly in upper grades — paints a picture of a school actively improving. For parents, this is a school where students who stay through middle grades show substantial growth, and where the foundation for future success is being built.
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