Summary:
Zip code 31027 in Dublin/East Dublin, Georgia, is served by two elementary schools within the Laurens County district, together forming a complete PK–5 pathway for approximately 1,094 students, with every student qualifying for free/reduced lunch.
East Laurens Elementary School (grades 3–5) is the clear academic leader and a rising star. Over two years, it jumped from the 57th to the 71st percentile in state rankings, climbing 183 spots to a 4-star rating. In math, it outperforms the state at every grade level—67.1% proficiency in 3rd grade, 60.5% in 4th, and 47.0% in 5th—though proficiency declines as students advance, a 20-point drop from 3rd to 5th grade. The school also posted strong year-over-year gains in 3rd grade (+9.6 points) and 5th grade (+11.5 points) math. However, 5th grade science lags at 40.6% proficiency, below the state average of 44.2%. Its chronic absenteeism rate is an impressive 10.6%, far better than the district and state averages of 17.7%. Meanwhile, East Laurens Primary School (grades PK–2) has no test scores but shows a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 18.8%, above district and state benchmarks. The primary school spends more per student ($16,139 vs. $14,768) but has a higher student-teacher ratio (14.8:1 vs. 11.3:1), suggesting its spending goes toward early-literacy programs rather than smaller classes.
The most striking finding is the 8.2-point gap in chronic absenteeism between the two schools serving the same community, with the primary school struggling to get its youngest students to attend consistently. Despite 100% economic disadvantage, East Laurens Elementary exceeds state math averages at every grade level, a significant achievement. The strong 3rd grade math performance suggests the primary school is building a solid foundation. The district itself is a 4-star system ranked 30th of 201 in Georgia. Key areas for attention include the declining math proficiency across grade levels, below-average science scores, and elevated absenteeism at the primary level.
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