Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 31705

There are four elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in zip code 31705 in Albany, Georgia, all part of the Dougherty County school district, which ranks in the 30th percentile statewide.

Families in this area will find dramatically different experiences depending on which school their child attends. International Studies Elementary Charter School is the clear standout, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 59th percentile — a remarkable jump from the 41st percentile the year before. Its 4th grade math proficiency rate of 62.1% is nearly double the district average, and it has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the group at just 6.4%. Robert H Harvey Elementary School is the most improved, climbing from the 14th percentile two years ago to the 47th percentile today, with 3rd grade math proficiency (50.9%) now exceeding the state average. At the other end of the spectrum, Radium Springs Elementary School ranks in the 2nd percentile with math proficiency rates in the single digits for 5th grade, while Turner Elementary School has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (29.5%) and ranks in the 13th percentile despite spending the most per student ($19,228).

Several important patterns emerge. Spending more per student does not guarantee better results — Turner spends the most yet performs the worst, while International Studies spends less and achieves far better outcomes. Chronic absenteeism is a powerful differentiator, with the top-performing school having the lowest absence rate and the lowest-performing having the highest. All four schools experience a "5th grade slump" in math, with proficiency dropping noticeably from 4th to 5th grade. Science scores offer a more encouraging picture, with Turner nearly matching the district average and Harvey exceeding the state average in recent years. The wide disparities among schools serving similar demographics (96-100% free/reduced lunch) highlight that school culture, leadership, and instructional quality matter enormously — and that significant improvement is possible even in high-poverty settings.