Summary:
Zip code 30904 in Augusta, Georgia, is served by five schools—four elementary schools and one high school—enrolling about 2,436 students, with most schools facing significant socioeconomic challenges as indicated by high free/reduced lunch eligibility rates.
For parents exploring this area, Rocky Creek Charter Academy stands out as the strongest academic performer despite being the smallest school with just 47 students. It is the only school in the zip code to earn a star rating, ranks in the 28th percentile statewide, and posts a 3rd-grade math proficiency rate of 50%—more than double the next closest local school. Rocky Creek also benefits from a remarkably low student-teacher ratio of 6.7:1 and the highest per-student spending at $18,985, which likely contributes to its success. In contrast, Monte Sano Elementary School ranks in the bottom 1% of Georgia elementary schools, while Garrett Elementary School and Lamar - Milledge Elementary School also struggle, with math proficiency rates ranging from 7.5% to 23.9% across grade levels. Academy of Richmond County High School, the only high school, shows a paradox: its test scores rank in the 10th percentile, yet its 87% graduation rate matches the state average and its dropout rate of 2.4% is better than the Richmond County district average.
Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue across all five schools, with rates ranging from 22.2% at Rocky Creek to a concerning 45.3% at the high school—all well above the state average of 17.7%. Resource disparities are also notable, as per-student spending varies by more than $6,600 within the same zip code. Additionally, math proficiency tends to decline as students advance through grade levels, suggesting cumulative learning gaps. Note that English Language Arts (ELA) scores for the current year have not yet been released and will be available in December; this absence should not be interpreted as a decline or gap in any school's performance.
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