Best Public Schools in Zip Code 31316

Zip code 31316 in Ludowici, Georgia, is served by five public schools in the Long County district, enrolling about 4,724 students across grades PK-12 in a predominantly rural, economically diverse area where 73-80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For parents, the standout story is Long County Middle School, where 90.3% of students passed Algebra I—nearly double the state average of 48.1%—while its grade-level math scores (26.8-38.3%) lag behind state averages. This suggests the school excels at accelerating top math students but may need to bolster its core math instruction. At the high school level, Long County High School is a rising star, climbing 37 spots in state rankings over two years to a 4-star rating, with a 95.5% graduation rate (state: 87.2%) and a standout 52.5% proficiency in US History—14 points above the state. Among elementary schools, Smiley Elementary School (grades 2-3) nearly matches state math averages at 47%, but McClelland Elementary School (grades 4-5) shows a concerning decline, with 5th grade math proficiency at just 23.8% versus the state's 44.1%. Long County Primary School (PK-1) has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 25.6%, well above the state's 17.7%.

Science is a relative strength across the district, with both McClelland (5th grade: 42.5%) and Long County Middle (8th grade: 35.7%) exceeding state averages. The district also shows a positive improvement trajectory overall, with most schools climbing in rankings year-over-year. However, the widening math gap from 3rd to 5th grade—from near-state-average to a 20-point deficit—is a key concern for parents to watch. Per-student spending is highest at the primary school ($11,197) and lowest at the high school ($9,173), yet the high school's strong outcomes suggest effective resource use. Overall, this district demonstrates that high-poverty schools can achieve notable successes, particularly in Algebra acceleration, US History, and graduation rates, even while facing challenges in elementary math and early-grade attendance.