Summary:
Zip code 31642, serving the town of Pearson, Georgia, is home to three schools within the Atkinson County School District, which together educate roughly 1,400 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
For parents, the standout in this area is Atkinson County High School, which boasts a 95.7% graduation rate—more than eight points above the state average—and a remarkable 53.1% proficiency in U.S. History, a full 14.6 points ahead of Georgia. The high school also improved its statewide ranking by 43 spots in a single year. At the middle school level, Atkinson County Middle School shines in mathematics, with 8th graders posting a 61.5% proficiency rate—15.2 points above the state—and 7th graders also outperforming state averages. Pearson Elementary School provides a solid foundation, particularly in 4th grade math, where 61.6% of students meet proficiency, 11.5 points above the state. All three schools improved their rankings year-over-year, and the district overall holds a 4-star rating.
This is a high-poverty district—80% to 86% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch—yet it consistently outperforms state averages in math and social studies. Science is the relative weak spot, with proficiency slightly below state levels at both the elementary and middle school levels. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at the middle school (17.2%, near the state average), but the high school (10.9%) and elementary school (11.4%) are well below state levels. With small class sizes (roughly 14:1 student-teacher ratios) and efficient spending, the district demonstrates that strong outcomes are achievable even in challenging socioeconomic contexts.
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