Summary:
Zip code 31305, serving the Darien area of McIntosh County, Georgia, contains three public schools—Todd Grant Elementary School (PK-5), McIntosh County Middle School (6-8), and McIntosh Academy (9-12)—all part of the McIntosh County School District, which ranks in the 38th percentile statewide.
For parents, the standout is McIntosh Academy, which posts an exceptional 98.1% graduation rate—nearly 11 points above the state average—despite End of Course exam scores that lag state averages by 10-17 points in Algebra I and Biology. Its US History proficiency (38%) nearly matches the state (38.5%), making it the school's strongest subject. McIntosh County Middle School shines in 6th grade math, where 51.5% of students are proficient, beating the state by 11 points and improving dramatically from 36.9% the prior year. However, that success fades by 8th grade, where math proficiency drops to 22.3%. Todd Grant Elementary School shows a similar slide, with math proficiency falling from 38.4% in 3rd grade to 21.3% in 5th grade—a concerning pattern across both schools.
All three schools serve high-poverty populations (95-100% free/reduced lunch), and chronic absenteeism is a challenge, with the elementary (19.8%) and high school (20.7%) exceeding the state rate of 17.7%, while the middle school does better at 15.5%. Per-student spending is similar at the middle and high schools (~$15,500), yet the middle school outperforms the high school on several metrics relative to state averages. Year-over-year scores are volatile, with swings of 10-20 points in some subjects, suggesting small cohorts and inconsistent gains. The district's ranking has held steady at the 38th percentile for three years, but individual school trajectories vary—the high school improved then slipped back, while the middle school remains unpredictable. Parents should view the high graduation rate as a strength, but note that test scores suggest students may need additional support for college and career readiness.
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