Schools in Zip Code 31774

Zip code 31774, serving the Ocilla area in Irwin County, Georgia, is home to three public schools within the Irwin County district, collectively educating roughly 1,610 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Irwin County High School is the clear standout in this area. It ranks in the 65th percentile statewide, up from the 56th percentile just two years ago, and boasts a 94.1% graduation rate—well above the state average of 87.2%. The high school excels in Algebra I (59.2% proficient vs. 48.1% statewide) and U.S. History (45.8% vs. 38.5%), though Biology lags at 38.4% proficiency. Irwin County Middle School shows remarkable strength in 8th grade, with science proficiency 11.3 points above the state and math 8.2 points above. However, its 6th and 7th grade math scores trail the state by 9.6 and 13.0 points respectively, creating a dramatic turnaround by 8th grade. Irwin County Elementary School is the area's weakest link, with math proficiency declining sharply from 45.9% in 3rd grade to just 27.6% in 5th grade—a 16.5-point deficit versus the state. The elementary school serves a 100% free/reduced lunch population and has shown no ranking improvement over three years.

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with all three schools exceeding the state's 17.7% rate—the high school is highest at 22.3%. Per-student spending increases with grade level ($13,639 elementary, $14,130 middle, $15,349 high), which aligns with the stronger outcomes seen at secondary levels. While the district holds steady at the 61st percentile overall, this masks divergent trajectories: the high school and middle school have each improved roughly 10 percentile points, while the elementary school remains flat. For parents, the high school and middle school offer clear academic strengths, particularly in math and science at the upper grades, but the elementary school's declining math trajectory and persistent absenteeism suggest areas where additional support could yield meaningful gains.