Summary:
Zip code 31794 in Tifton, Georgia, is home to six elementary schools serving grades PK-5 within the Tift County school district, a high-poverty area where every school reports 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
There is a wide range of performance across these schools. Len Lastinger Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide with 4 stars. Its math scores are exceptional—78.5% of 4th graders are proficient, far above the state average of 50.1%. At the other end, Matt Wilson Elementary School ranks in the 27th percentile, and Charles Spencer Elementary School sits at the 31st percentile, though Charles Spencer has improved dramatically from a 9th percentile ranking the prior year. The most impressive turnaround belongs to J. T. Reddick Elementary School, which jumped 364 spots in the rankings—its 5th grade science proficiency more than doubled to 56.1%, and 3rd grade math improved by 16 percentage points. G. O. Bailey Elementary School and Northside Elementary School fall in the middle, ranking in the 58th and 33rd percentiles respectively.
Notably, high poverty does not determine outcomes—all six schools serve identical demographics, yet the gap between the top and bottom schools is 56 percentage points. Spending also doesn't predict success: Northside spends the most per student ($15,449) but ranks lower than G. O. Bailey, which spends the least ($13,894). Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with the district average of 24.0% well above the state's 17.7%, and only Northside and Matt Wilson fall below the state rate. Science is an unexpected strength, as J. T. Reddick, Len Lastinger, and Charles Spencer all exceed the state average in 5th grade science despite mixed math results. For parents, this means school choice within this zip code matters significantly—Len Lastinger offers the strongest overall academics, while J. T. Reddick shows the most momentum for improvement.
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