Summary:
Zip code 31406 in Savannah, Georgia is served by two middle schools—The STEM Academy at Bartlett and Oglethorpe Charter School—both part of the Savannah-Chatham County district, enrolling a combined 1,192 students in grades 6 through 8.
These two schools offer vastly different academic experiences. The STEM Academy at Bartlett is the clear standout, earning 4-star ratings for three consecutive years and ranking in the 76th–84th percentile statewide. Its proficiency rates are strong across the board—60.4% of 6th graders and 61.5% of 8th graders are proficient in math, compared to just 18.7% and 30.2% at Oglethorpe Charter School. STEM Academy also excels in science (68.6% on the high school Physical Science exam) and social studies (42%), while keeping chronic absenteeism at an exceptionally low 6.2%. In contrast, Oglethorpe has earned 1-star ratings and ranks in the bottom 10–17% of Georgia middle schools, with proficiency rates in single digits for 8th grade science (6.5%) and social studies (7.6%).
One fascinating anomaly at Oglethorpe is its Algebra I performance: 76% of its students taking that End-of-Course exam are proficient—far exceeding the state average (48.1%) and even beating STEM Academy’s 54.9%. This suggests Oglethorpe may be successfully accelerating a select group of students while the majority struggle with grade-level math. Notably, both schools have chronic absenteeism rates well below district (16.6%) and state (17.7%) averages, so attendance is not the differentiator. However, Oglethorpe serves a student population with nearly 88% free/reduced lunch eligibility versus 49% at STEM Academy, and it receives about $2,000 less per student in funding. For parents, the choice is stark: STEM Academy delivers consistently high, balanced achievement, while Oglethorpe shows pockets of excellence but faces significant challenges in core subjects.
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