Summary:
Zip code 31510, serving the Alma, Georgia area, is home to two elementary schools within the Bacon County School District, which together educate roughly 999 students across grades PK-5 in a high-poverty community where 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch.
Bacon County Elementary School (grades 3-5) is the clear academic standout, earning a consistent 4-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the 73rd percentile statewide. Its mathematics proficiency exceeds state averages by 4 to 10 percentage points across all tested grades, with 4th grade math being a particular strength at 60.4% proficiency—more than 10 points above the state. The school also posted a remarkable 7.9-point improvement in 5th grade science, jumping to 52.6% proficiency. Meanwhile, Bacon County Primary School (grades PK-2) serves as the foundational entry point with 551 students, though it lacks standardized test data since testing begins in 3rd grade. The primary school spends more per student ($15,932 vs. $14,119) and maintains a slightly higher student-teacher ratio (12.9:1 vs. 11.5:1) than the elementary school.
Both schools outperform the district's chronic absenteeism rate of 22.9%, holding steady around 18.2-18.4%, though they remain slightly above the state average of 17.7%. The most compelling takeaway is that this district achieves above-state-average results despite serving a 100% free/reduced lunch population, suggesting effective instructional strategies are mitigating challenges often associated with high-poverty schools. However, 5th grade mathematics (48.2%) lags behind the school's 3rd and 4th grade performance, indicating a potential transition challenge worth monitoring. With a 4-star district rating and improving state rankings, this is a stable, high-performing district that is beating the odds.
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