Summary:
Zip code 31216 in Macon, Georgia, is served by a single high school, Rutland High School, part of the Bibb County School District, which enrolls 921 students in grades 9 through 12.
Rutland High School presents a mixed picture for parents. On the positive side, the school’s graduation rate is a strong point at 90.4%, which beats both the district (89.0%) and state (87.2%) averages, and its dropout rate of 1.5% is notably lower than the state’s 2.4%. However, academic proficiency on state Milestones tests lags significantly behind state averages. For example, in the 2025–2026 school year, only 13.3% of students were proficient in Algebra I compared to 48.1% statewide, and Biology proficiency was 24.9% versus 47.2% statewide. The school does outperform its district in several subjects, particularly U.S. History, where 33.3% of students were proficient versus 19.2% for the district, but it still trails the state’s 38.5% in that subject.
A major concern for families is chronic absenteeism, which sits at a very high 37.4%—more than double the state average of 17.7%. This is especially puzzling given the school’s high graduation rate, suggesting that credit recovery or flexible scheduling may be helping students finish despite missed days. Test scores also fluctuate dramatically year to year; for instance, Biology proficiency dropped from 40.6% to 24.9% between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, while Algebra I more than doubled from 5.9% to 13.3%. With nearly half of students (48.75%) qualifying for free or reduced lunch and per-student spending at $13,124, the school faces clear socioeconomic challenges. While Rutland High School excels at getting students to graduation, parents should weigh the low proficiency rates and attendance issues when considering this school.
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