Summary:
Zip code 31707 in Albany, Georgia, is served by six schools in the Dougherty County district, including four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, with a combined enrollment of roughly 3,900 students in a high-poverty area where most schools report 85-100% free/reduced lunch eligibility.
The standout in this zip code is Lake Park Elementary School, which outperforms the district in every subject and grade level tested, with 5th grade science proficiency at 58.4% (vs. 39.3% district and 44.2% state) and a remarkably low 7.9% chronic absenteeism rate—less than half the state average. Sherwood Acres Elementary School shows steady improvement, climbing from the 41st to 49th percentile over three years, with strong 5th grade math (46.9%) and science (49.4%) scores. At the other end, West Town Elementary School ranks in the 9th percentile despite spending the most per student ($20,265), while Alice Coachman Elementary School has made a dramatic turnaround, jumping from the 3rd to 20th percentile in two years, though it still trails district averages.
A significant concern is the middle school slide at Merry Acres Middle School, where 8th grade math proficiency is just 17.8%—far below the 50% that Lake Park students achieve in 5th grade—suggesting students lose ground after elementary school. Westover High School offers a bright spot with a 95.1% graduation rate (7.9 points above the state) and proficiency rates well above district averages on end-of-course exams, despite a 30.1% chronic absenteeism rate and the lowest per-student spending. Overall, this zip code shows a stark divide between two higher-performing elementary schools and two struggling ones, with spending showing no correlation to outcomes—the key differentiator appears to be attendance, as Lake Park's exceptional engagement drives its success.
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