Summary:
Zip code 31779, encompassing the Pelham, Georgia area, is served by four schools across two districts—Grady County and Pelham City—including two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, all operating with high poverty rates where 92% to 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The standout performer in this area is Shiver Elementary School, which serves grades PK-8 and consistently beats both district and state averages despite spending $2,000–$4,000 less per student than its Pelham City counterparts. In 4th-grade math, Shiver achieves 79% proficiency—nearly 30 points above the state average—and its 8th-grade math proficiency (62.5%) is dramatically higher than Pelham City Middle School's 35.1%. Shiver also outperforms in 8th-grade science (43.7% vs. 27.3% at Pelham City Middle). By contrast, Pelham Elementary School trails significantly in early grades, with 3rd-grade math proficiency at just 29.8% compared to Shiver's 62.1%, though Pelham Elementary edges out Shiver in 5th-grade math (38.2% vs. 32.3%) and 5th-grade science (50% vs. 40.3%).
The Pelham City schools show notable strengths in attendance and graduation. Chronic absenteeism is remarkably low across the district—ranging from 8.7% to 9.3%, roughly half the state average—and Pelham High School boasts a 93.4% graduation rate, well above the state's 87.2%. However, academic proficiency at the high school level lags, with only 32.8% proficient in Algebra I and 20% in U.S. History. Shiver Elementary's chronic absenteeism (17.9%) matches the state average, indicating room for improvement. Overall, Shiver Elementary demonstrates that high achievement is possible despite poverty and lower funding, making its instructional approaches worth examining, while the Pelham City schools excel in keeping students engaged and graduating, even as test scores remain a challenge.
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