Best Public Schools in Zip Code 31546

Zip code 31546 in Jesup, Georgia is served by two public schools within the Wayne County School District: Jesup Elementary School (grades PK-5, 706 students) and Arthur Williams Middle School (grades 6-8, 626 students). Both schools serve predominantly low-income families, with nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and they share similar per-student spending (around $12,500-$13,000) and student-teacher ratios (about 13:1).

The standout finding is Arthur Williams Middle School's Algebra I End of Course results: 100% of tested 8th graders scored proficient or above, dramatically outpacing the district (32.4%) and state (48.1%). This follows a 97.6% proficiency rate the prior year, indicating a highly effective accelerated math program. However, this success contrasts sharply with the school's general 8th grade math proficiency (37.2%) and a significant weakness in 8th grade science (18.9% proficient, nearly 11 points below the state). The middle school also showed strong year-over-year gains in 6th grade math (+10.7 points), 7th grade math (+10.4), and 8th grade social studies (+15.4), but declines in 8th grade math and science. Meanwhile, Jesup Elementary School has improved its state ranking from the bottom third to the middle of the pack over three years, with 4th grade math nearly matching the state average (47.4% vs. 50.1%). However, 3rd grade math dropped sharply from 39.7% to 25.5% year-over-year.

Chronic absenteeism is a systemic challenge, affecting 19.5% of elementary students and 22.4% of middle school students, both above the state average of 17.7%. Despite above-average per-student spending and favorable class sizes, most test scores remain below state averages, suggesting that high poverty rates and attendance issues are significant barriers. For parents, Arthur Williams Middle School offers an exceptional pathway for advanced math students, while Jesup Elementary School shows steady, if uneven, progress. Both schools would benefit from targeted support in science and early-grade math, as well as community-wide efforts to improve attendance.