Schools in Zip Code 31709

Zip code 31709 in Americus, Georgia, is served by a single school, Furlow Charter School, a K-12 charter school within the State Specialty Schools II- Furlow Charter School district, offering a unique educational path for its 585 students.

Furlow Charter School presents a mixed picture for parents. On the positive side, the school boasts a strong attendance record with a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.2%, notably better than the state's 17.7%. Its graduation rate of 85.4% is close to the state average, and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1 suggests smaller class sizes. The school also shows solid elementary math performance, with 5th-grade math proficiency (46.6%) exceeding the state average (44.1%). However, significant challenges emerge in higher grades. End-of-course exams reveal substantial gaps, with proficiency rates in Biology (25.0%) and US History (15.6%) less than half of state averages. Middle school math also shows a decline, with 6th-grade proficiency at 31.2% compared to the state's 40.7%. While the school demonstrated a dramatic improvement in Algebra I scores from 21.4% to 37.2% in one year, other subjects like US History declined, indicating inconsistent progress.

For parents, this school offers a close-knit, K-12 environment with good attendance and early academic strengths, but it struggles to maintain proficiency in advanced coursework. The school's ability to improve Algebra I suggests targeted interventions can be effective, yet the low scores in Biology and US History are concerning for college readiness. With per-student spending at $14,013, the school invests significant resources, but the mixed outcomes raise questions about how those funds are allocated, particularly for high school-level instruction. Ultimately, Furlow Charter School is a school of contrasts—excelling at keeping students engaged and on track to graduate while facing notable hurdles in ensuring content mastery across all subjects.