Summary:
Zip code 31794 in Tifton, Georgia, is served by 9 schools in the Tift County district, including 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school, enrolling about 6,372 students in a predominantly low-income area.
For parents, the standout school here is Len Lastinger Elementary School, which ranks in the 83rd percentile statewide and posts the strongest scores across the zip code—its 4th grade math proficiency of 78.5% is 28 points above the district and state averages, and its 3rd grade ELA nearly doubles the district rate. Meanwhile, J. T. Reddick Elementary School is the most improved, jumping from the 31st to 60th percentile in one year, with 5th grade science surging 30 points to 56.1%. At the other end, Charles Spencer Elementary School struggles most, with 3rd grade ELA at just 11.3% and the highest chronic absenteeism (28.6%) among elementary schools, despite spending $15,272 per student—one of the highest in the district. The middle schools show a bright spot in advanced math: Eighth Street Middle School posts 100% Algebra I proficiency and Northeast Middle School hits 94.6%, far above the state’s 48.1%. However, Tift County High School drops sharply in Algebra I (23.2%) and biology (37.1%), though it maintains a graduation rate of 88.6%.
Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, running above the state’s 17.7% at most schools, with the high school highest at 29.8%. Notably, science is a relative strength—several elementary schools exceed state averages in 5th grade science, and Eighth Street Middle tops the state in 8th grade science. While Northside Elementary School and Matt Wilson Elementary School have the lowest absenteeism and mid-tier performance, Len Lastinger proves high achievement is possible despite poverty, suggesting that factors like instruction and school culture—not just funding—drive outcomes. Parents should weigh these differences carefully when choosing a school.
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