Summary:
Zip code 30901 in Augusta, Georgia is home to four high schools within the Richmond County School District, serving grades 6-12 and 9-12 with a combined enrollment of roughly 2,748 students, and it presents one of the most dramatic performance divides you'll find in a single area.
At the top, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet is a statewide powerhouse, ranking 17th out of 455 schools (96th percentile) with a 5-star rating. Its Algebra I proficiency rate of 93.1% is nearly double the state average, and it boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate with just 6.3% chronic absenteeism. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School also performs well, ranking 128th (72nd percentile) with a 4-star rating, a 100% graduation rate, and solid proficiency in Biology (63.3%) and Algebra I (50.4%). In stark contrast, Laney High School (ranked 419th) and Josey High School (ranked 432nd) sit in the bottom 8% of the state with 0-star ratings. Their proficiency rates are dramatically lower—Josey's Algebra I proficiency is just 9.8% versus Davidson's 93.1%—and both have chronic absenteeism above 50%, with graduation rates of 74% and 66.1%, respectively.
What's most striking is that spending doesn't explain these gaps. Josey actually spends the most per student ($16,022) yet achieves the lowest results, while Davidson spends less ($13,406) and excels. The magnet schools also serve more economically diverse populations—Davidson has 42% free/reduced lunch eligibility and Johnson 69.8%, compared to 100% at both Laney and Josey—yet still outperform. This suggests that school model, student selection, and culture matter more than raw funding. For parents, the takeaway is clear: within this zip code, the magnet schools offer dramatically better outcomes, while the traditional high schools face significant challenges with attendance, proficiency, and graduation that will require substantial intervention to overcome.
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