Best Public Schools in Zip Code 31646

In ZIP code 31646, which covers the Folkston, Georgia area, there is exactly 1 school: St. George Elementary School, a public elementary school serving grades PK through 6 with 198 students in the Charlton County district. Because it is the only school in this area, all attention focuses on this single campus, which has built a reputation for strong academics despite serving a high-poverty community.

St. George Elementary has posted some impressive results, especially in English Language Arts and during the 2024–2025 school year, when it ranked 58th out of 1,238 Georgia elementary schools (95th percentile) with a 5-star rating. In that standout year, 3rd-grade math proficiency hit 96.2% and 5th-grade science reached 95.2%, both far above state averages. The school also boasted extremely strong ELA scores, with 3rd graders at 80.8% proficiency versus a 34.9% state average. More recently, in 2025–2026, scores cooled considerably—3rd-grade math dropped to 66.7% and 5th-grade science fell to 57.9%—but most results still remain above state averages. The school's ranking slipped to 202nd in the state (83rd percentile) with a 4-star rating, but it remains a solidly above-average school.

Parents should note some key characteristics: 80.3% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, yet chronic absenteeism is a low 10.4%, well below the district (14.7%) and state (17.7%) rates. The student-teacher ratio is a favorable 12.7, and per-student spending is a generous $15,761. However, performance is uneven by grade level—while 5th-grade math beats the district (63.1% vs. 48.7%), 6th-grade math lags behind the district (43.8% vs. 63.3%), suggesting a possible transition challenge in upper elementary. With only 198 students, grade cohorts are small, so year-to-year swings can be dramatic; the recent dip likely reflects normal volatility rather than a fundamental decline. Overall, St. George Elementary is a strong, well-supported school that excels in ELA and attendance, though parents of upper-grade students may want to watch math progress closely.