Summary:
Zip code 30733 (Plainville, GA) is home to a single elementary school, Swain Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 5 within the Gordon County School District.
Swain Elementary stands out for its exceptionally high economic need, with 99.19% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet it also boasts significant resource investments: per-student spending of $16,347 and a favorable 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Academically, the school shows a striking split by grade level. In 3rd grade math, 48.8% of students are proficient, which actually exceeds both the district (45.7%) and state (48.3%) averages—a remarkable improvement from just 23.2% the prior year. However, performance declines sharply in upper grades: 4th grade math proficiency is 35.6% (below the district's 46.1% and state's 50.1%), and 5th grade math drops to 33.9% (below district's 44.4% and state's 44.1%). Science proficiency in 5th grade is also low at 32.4%, compared to 42.3% for the district and 44.2% for the state. This pattern suggests the school is effective in early grades but struggles to maintain gains as students advance.
One of the most pressing concerns is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 23.1%—well above the district's 16.0% and the state's 17.7%. This is particularly notable given the school's generous resources, indicating that attendance, not funding, may be the primary barrier to consistent achievement. The school's overall state ranking has slipped from the 48th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 40th percentile in 2025-2026, even as 3rd grade scores improved dramatically. Year-over-year volatility is also evident, with 5th grade science dropping 22 points and 5th grade math falling 11.6 points, while 3rd grade math surged 25.6 points. For parents, Swain Elementary offers strong early-grade instruction and small class sizes, but upper-grade performance and attendance remain key areas to watch.
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