Summary:
Zip code 30802, encompassing the Appling, Georgia area, is served by a single elementary school, North Columbia Elementary School, which provides education for grades PK through 5 with an enrollment of 460 students.
North Columbia Elementary School is an exceptional institution that consistently ranks among the top 5% of elementary schools in Georgia, earning a 5-star rating for three consecutive years. The school is a true math powerhouse, with 3rd and 4th grade proficiency rates exceeding 84%—roughly 35 percentage points above state averages. Science achievement is equally impressive, with 5th grade proficiency at 79.4%, nearly double the state average. While English Language Arts scores from the most recent release are not yet available, the 2024-2025 data showed proficiency rates well above state averages, though they lag behind the school's math performance. The school also boasts remarkably low chronic absenteeism at just 7.8%, less than half the state rate of 17.7%, which likely contributes to its academic success. With per-student spending of $15,588 and a favorable 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio, the school benefits from strong resource allocation that supports its high achievement levels.
Operating within the highly-rated Columbia County district—ranked 17th out of 201 districts statewide—North Columbia Elementary School outperforms its already-strong district in nearly every metric. The school's 5th grade scores show a slight dip compared to earlier grades, but still maintain a 26-point advantage over the state average in math. With a relatively low poverty rate (30% free/reduced lunch) and consistent top-tier rankings, this school represents a high-quality educational option for families in the area, demonstrating sustained excellence across multiple measures of student success.
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