Summary:
Schools in ZIP code 31750 serve the Fitzgerald area of Ben Hill County, Georgia, with four public schools—Fitzgerald High School School College and Career Academy (grades 9-12), Ben Hill County Primary School (PK-2), Ben Hill County Middle School (6-8), and Ben Hill Elementary School (3-5)—totaling about 2,831 students in a district where every school reports 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility.
The standout is Fitzgerald High School School College and Career Academy, which posts a 90.8% graduation rate—above both the Ben Hill County district (85.7%) and state (87.2%) averages—despite test scores well below state norms. Its Biology proficiency jumped 15.3 points in one year (to 29.9%), though Algebra I fell sharply from 38.2% to 23.6%. Ben Hill County Middle School is the only school in the area to beat the state in any subject: 33.2% of 8th graders are proficient in Science, topping the state's 29.7%. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (15.0%) of the four schools. Ben Hill Elementary School struggles most in 5th-grade Science (20.6% vs. 44.2% state) and has seen its state ranking fall from the 51st to 32nd percentile over three years. Ben Hill County Primary School has the highest chronic absenteeism at 22.3%.
Across the district, academic gaps widen as students advance: 3rd-grade Math trails the state by 6.1 points, but Algebra I trails by 24.5 points. Middle school Math scores are improving (6th grade up 2.9 points, 7th grade up 4.5 points), and 8th-grade Social Studies rose 4.9 points. Per-student spending ranges from $13,320 at the high school to $15,605 at the primary school, yet the high school achieves the strongest outcomes despite spending the least. The district's 1-star rating reflects significant challenges, but the high graduation rate, middle school Science strength, and improving middle school math offer genuine bright spots for families considering these schools.
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