Summary:
Zip code 31217 in Macon, Georgia is served by three elementary schools—Mattie Wells Elementary School, Burdell Elementary School, and Bernd Elementary School—spanning two districts (Jones County and Bibb County) and serving grades PK-5 with enrollments between 356 and 584 students.
Mattie Wells is the highest-performing school overall, with a 3-star district rating and the most affluent student body (53.6% free/reduced lunch). It leads in most subjects, but shows a sharp 5th-grade math drop-off (20.4% proficiency vs. 39.1% in 4th grade). Burdell is the most improved, climbing from 780th to 721st in state rankings, and excels in 5th grade—its math (30.9%) and science (36.8%) proficiency exceed Bibb County averages. Bernd is the lowest-performing (1-star rating) but has the best attendance (16.6% chronic absenteeism, below the state average) and has improved its ranking from 1,092nd to 907th. Notably, Bernd spends the most per student ($18,597) yet achieves the lowest scores, while Mattie Wells spends the least ($15,112) and performs best—suggesting spending alone doesn't drive outcomes.
All three schools trail state math averages at every grade level, with gaps ranging from 6.7 to 23.7 points. Year-over-year proficiency swings are large (e.g., Bernd's 4th-grade math jumped 21 points), making trends hard to pin down. Burdell stands out as a bright spot within Bibb County, consistently beating district averages despite the district's low statewide ranking. For parents, Mattie Wells offers the strongest academics, Burdell shows promising momentum and solid 5th-grade results, and Bernd, despite academic struggles, has strong attendance and recent improvement—though all schools have room to grow toward state benchmarks.
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