Summary:
Zip code 31406 in Savannah, Georgia, is home to 7 schools within the Savannah-Chatham County district, serving approximately 4,892 students across elementary, middle, high, and alternative education levels in a predominantly economically diverse area.
The standout school in this area is The STEM Academy at Bartlett, a middle school ranking in the 76th percentile statewide with 4 stars. It dramatically outperforms its peers, with 6th-grade math proficiency at 60.4% compared to the district's 25.9%, and boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the zip code at just 6.2%. In stark contrast, White Bluff Elementary School ranks in the bottom 9th percentile with 0 stars, where 5th-grade math proficiency is only 14.5% versus the state's 44.1%, and chronic absenteeism reaches 21.5%. Hesse School, a PK-8 institution, is a hidden gem with 100% proficiency in Algebra I, far exceeding the district's 32.8%, and maintains low absenteeism at 9.4%. The two middle schools present a striking contrast: STEM Academy excels while Oglethorpe Charter School struggles at the 13th percentile, though Oglethorpe shows a bright spot with 76% Algebra I proficiency. Jenkins High School improved its ranking to the 37th percentile but faces a 27.6% chronic absenteeism rate and a graduation rate of 83.2%, below the state's 87.2%. Isle of Hope School and Union High School of Savannah Coastal Harbor Treatment Center round out the list, with the latter serving a unique residential population of just 69 students.
The most significant finding is that chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with academic performance—schools with lower absenteeism rates consistently achieve better results. Additionally, higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes; the two highest-spending schools, Isle of Hope ($18,502/student) and White Bluff ($18,326/student), are among the lowest performers, while STEM Academy spends less ($16,728) yet achieves the best results. This zip code illustrates a wide disparity in educational quality, with a 67-percentile-point spread between its best and worst schools, making school choice a critical factor for families in this area.
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