Schools in Zip Code 31605

ZIP code 31605 in Valdosta, Georgia, is served by four schools—three elementary schools and one middle school—with a combined enrollment of 3,355 students, and it notably contains no high schools. The most striking feature of this area is the sharp divide between Sallas Mahone Elementary, which belongs to the lower-ranked Valdosta City district, and the three schools in the highly ranked Lowndes County district: Dewar Elementary, Pine Grove Elementary School, and Pine Grove Middle School.

Despite serving similarly low-income populations (free/reduced lunch rates between 71% and 81%) and spending nearly identical amounts per student ($12,132–$12,925), the Lowndes County schools dramatically outperform Sallas Mahone. In 3rd grade math, Dewar (65.1%) and Pine Grove Elementary (59.0%) exceed Sallas Mahone (39.2%) by 20–26 percentage points, and the gap widens in 5th grade science, where Dewar's 66.9% proficiency is more than double Sallas Mahone's 29.7%. Pine Grove Middle School stands out for its exceptional advanced coursework, with a 93.2% pass rate in Algebra I and 98.3% proficiency in High School Physical Science—far above state averages—though its standard 8th grade math (55.2%) and science (36.0%) scores lag behind district peers.

Chronic absenteeism is a key differentiator: Dewar's rate of 8.5% is the best in the area, while Sallas Mahone's 19.6% exceeds the state average of 17.7% and correlates with its declining state ranking (from the 40th to 35th percentile). Pine Grove Elementary School shows notable grade-level inconsistency, excelling in 4th grade math (73.7%) but falling below state averages in 5th grade (42.6%). English Language Arts scores from 2024-2025 mirror these patterns, with Pine Grove Elementary leading all grade levels and Sallas Mahone trailing. For parents, the Lowndes County schools—particularly Dewar and Pine Grove Middle—offer stronger, more consistent academic outcomes, while Sallas Mahone faces challenges in both achievement and attendance.