Summary:
Zip code 31014 in Cochran, Georgia, is served by two elementary schools within the Bleckley County district, together educating roughly 1,268 students across grades PK-5. Bleckley County Primary School handles grades PK-2 with 689 students, while Bleckley County Elementary School serves grades 3-5 with 579 students. The district itself holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 70th percentile statewide.
Bleckley County Elementary School is the standout performer, ranking 173rd out of 1,219 Georgia elementary schools (86th percentile) with a 4-star rating. It has improved its state ranking for three consecutive years, climbing from 232nd to 210th to its current position. Its 5th-grade math proficiency is an exceptional 70%, nearly 26 points above the state average of 44.1%, and its 5th-grade science proficiency reaches 67.2% versus the state's 44.2%. The school also posts a remarkably low 6.3% chronic absenteeism rate, far below the district's 9.8% and the state's 17.7%. In contrast, Bleckley County Primary School serves a higher-poverty population with 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility, spends more per student ($13,648 vs. $11,511), and maintains a higher student-teacher ratio of 16.2:1 compared to 14.1:1 at the elementary school.
Both schools serve predominantly low-income families (93-100% free/reduced lunch), yet they outperform state averages across all reported subjects. The most notable anomaly is a 10.9-point drop in 4th-grade math at the elementary school, from 76.1% to 65.2%, though the 5th-grade cohort improved by 8.7 points, suggesting a unique cohort rather than systemic decline. English Language Arts proficiency (48.6-54.1%) remains above state averages but trails math and science, indicating a potential focus area. With chronic absenteeism at roughly one-third the state rate and a steady upward trajectory in rankings, these schools demonstrate that high-poverty environments can still achieve strong academic results through consistent district-wide practices.
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