Summary:
Zip code 30809 in Evans, Georgia, is home to four middle schools serving grades 6-8 within the highly-rated Columbia County School District, which ranks 17th out of 201 districts in the state.
Families in this area have access to two standout schools and two solid, mid-tier options. Riverside Middle School is the academic leader, ranking 29th in Georgia with a 5-star rating and exceptional math proficiency across all grades (81.6% in 6th grade, 83% in 8th grade). Greenbrier Middle School is a close second, ranking 37th with a 5-star rating, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the group (6.9%), and outstanding Algebra I proficiency (90.4%). Evans Middle School ranks 109th with a 4-star rating and performs near district averages in most subjects. Lakeside Middle School trails significantly, ranking 162nd, with notably low 8th grade science proficiency (2.2%) and the highest free/reduced lunch rate (58.8%) in the zip code.
All four schools outperform state averages in math, and Algebra I success is a major strength across the board, with proficiency rates ranging from 62.6% to 95.1%—well above the state average of 48.1%. However, there is a clear two-tier divide: Riverside and Greenbrier are elite performers, while Evans and Lakeside lag behind, particularly in science and advanced math. Chronic absenteeism tracks with performance, with Greenbrier at 6.9% and Lakeside at 14.7%. Interestingly, spending does not correlate with outcomes—Lakeside spends the most per student ($14,410) yet performs the lowest, while Evans spends the least ($10,275) and outperforms Lakeside. For parents, this zip code offers strong educational options overall, but the choice of school can significantly impact a child's experience, especially in math and science.
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