Summary:
Zip code 31098 is home to just one school, Pearl Stephens Elementary School, a Title I school in Warner Robins serving grades 3 through 5 with 436 students, all of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch. Part of the Houston County district, the school offers a favorable 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $15,518 per student, both better than many Georgia schools.
Academically, Pearl Stephens shows a mixed picture. In the 2025-2026 school year, 3rd grade math proficiency improved to 37.8% (up 4.5 points) and 4th grade math rose to 31.7% (up 6.4 points), though both remain roughly 10-18 points below state averages. However, 5th grade math dipped to 29.4%, and 5th grade science fell dramatically by 12.1 points to just 23.4%—a staggering 20.8 points below the state. The school's state ranking has slipped from the 35th to the 25th percentile, indicating that while younger grades are improving, peer schools are advancing faster. Chronic absenteeism sits at 16.9%, slightly above the district's 15.6% but below the state's 17.7%, which is notable given the school's 100% economic disadvantage rate.
The most pressing concern is the sharp science decline, which may signal curriculum or cohort-specific issues that need immediate attention. Meanwhile, the positive momentum in 3rd and 4th grade math suggests recent instructional changes are working for younger students, though those gains haven't carried into 5th grade. Despite above-average spending and a strong student-teacher ratio, achievement gaps of 10-21 points persist across all subjects, raising questions about how effectively resources are being translated into outcomes. English Language Arts scores from the prior year showed 5th grade at 38.7% proficiency but 4th grade lagging at 19.9%; updated ELA results arrive in December and should be reviewed for current trends. For parents, this school offers strong support structures but faces real challenges in upper-grade science and overall state competitiveness.
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