Summary:
Zip code 31639, serving the Nashville, Georgia area within the Berrien County School District, is home to two elementary schools—Berrien Primary School (grades PK-2) and Berrien Elementary School (grades 3-5)—that together serve roughly 1,477 students in a feeder pattern where all families qualify for free/reduced lunch.
Berrien Elementary is the clear academic standout, outperforming state averages in every mathematics grade level tested. In 2025-2026, 3rd grade math proficiency hit 52.3% (state: 48.3%), 4th grade reached 58.3% (state: 50.1%), and 5th grade posted 48.3% (state: 44.1%). The most striking trend is a 9.6-point surge in 3rd grade math from the prior year, suggesting successful interventions or strong preparation from the primary school. However, 4th grade math, while still the school’s best subject, dropped 6.2 points from an exceptional 64.5% the year before—likely a regression to the mean. Science performance (44%) essentially matches the state average (44.2%), leaving room for growth. Meanwhile, Berrien Primary School has no test scores (typical for early grades) but shows a lower chronic absenteeism rate (17.5%) than the elementary school (20.8%), which exceeds both district (19.0%) and state (17.7%) averages.
The district invests strategically in early education: Berrien Primary spends $13,122 per student with a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio, versus $11,585 and 16.3:1 at Berrien Elementary. This front-loading appears to pay off, as the district ranks 31st out of 201 in Georgia (85th percentile, 4 stars). The key takeaway for parents: this is a high-performing, economically challenged system beating the odds in math, with a well-managed transition from primary to elementary. The main concerns are rising absenteeism at the elementary level and science achievement that merely matches state norms—both areas where targeted attention could yield further gains.
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