Best Public Schools in Zip Code 31321

Zip code 31321 in Pembroke, Georgia, is served by three public schools within the highly-rated Bryan County School District, which ranks in the 91st percentile statewide and holds a 5-star rating. The district serves approximately 1,972 students across Bryan County Elementary School (PK-5), Bryan County Middle School (6-8), and Bryan County High School (9-12), with a majority of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

The standout performer is Bryan County Elementary School, which consistently exceeds state averages in math and science across all grade levels, with 3rd grade math proficiency at 59.8% versus the state's 48.3%. The elementary school also holds the highest state ranking in the zip code at the 74th percentile. Bryan County Middle School presents a striking paradox: its Algebra I program is exceptional, with 92.9% of students scoring proficient or higher compared to the state's 48.1%, yet its standard grade-level math scores fall dramatically below state averages—6th grade math proficiency is just 27.0% versus the state's 40.7%. Bryan County High School is improving, climbing to the 73rd percentile with a 4-star rating, and exceeds state averages in Biology (51.8% vs. 47.2%) and U.S. History (48.9% vs. 38.5%), though it lags in Algebra I at 44.4% proficiency.

The most concerning trend is the sharp academic decline between elementary and middle school—5th grade math proficiency of 50.7% plummets to 27.0% by 6th grade, a 23.7-point drop. Chronic absenteeism also escalates with grade level, rising from 15.6% in elementary to 20.7% in middle and 25.4% in high school, with the high school rate more than double the district average of 12.2%. Despite generous per-student spending ($13,670-$16,927) and favorable student-teacher ratios (10.9:1 to 12.9:1), the middle school's overall ranking sits at just the 41st percentile. The high school's graduation rate of 89.0% exceeds the state's 87.2%, but its 3.0% dropout rate remains a concern. For parents, this district offers strong elementary foundations and an elite accelerated math program, but the middle school transition and rising absenteeism represent significant challenges that warrant attention.