Schools in Zip Code 31620

Zip code 31620, serving the Adel, Georgia area, contains two schools in the Cook County School District: Cook High School (grades 9-12, 895 students) and Cook Primary School (grades PK-2, 778 students), with no middle school in the immediate area.

Cook High School is the standout performer, jumping 85 spots in the state ranking to land in the top 22% of Georgia high schools (4 stars). The most dramatic improvement came in Algebra I, where proficiency surged from 41.6% to 71.9% in a single year—now nearly 24 points above the state average. Biology also improved to 49.8%, slightly above the state mark, while U.S. History dipped 7.4 points but still remains above average. The school boasts an exceptional 98.5% graduation rate, far exceeding the state's 87.2%, and a low dropout rate of 1.1%. However, chronic absenteeism sits at 20%, above both district and state averages, which is a concern worth watching. Cook Primary School serves a high-poverty population (100% free/reduced lunch) but invests heavily in early education, spending $16,281 per student with a low 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio—both the highest spending and lowest ratio in this data set.

Comparing the two schools, the primary school spends about $4,000 more per student than the high school, reflecting the higher costs of early childhood education. The district's strategic investment in early foundations appears to pay off downstream, as the high school's graduation rate is elite despite economic challenges. Notably, while Cook High School matches district averages in most subjects, its Algebra I score (71.9%) actually trails the district (75.2%), suggesting strong math instruction across other county schools. The absence of a middle school in the zip code means grades 3-8 students are bused elsewhere, yet the transition seems effective given the high school's success. English Language Arts scores are pending release, which will provide a fuller picture of literacy outcomes. Overall, this is a district punching above its weight, with clear evidence that targeted resource allocation—especially in early grades and math—is yielding strong results.