Schools in Zip Code 31803

Zip code 31803, serving the Buena Vista area of Marion County, Georgia, is home to two public schools—Marion County Middle/High School (grades 6–12, 687 students) and L. K. Moss Elementary School (grades PK–5, 606 students)—both part of the Marion County district, which ranks in the bottom quarter of Georgia districts.

These schools face significant challenges but also show some encouraging signs. Both serve extremely high-poverty populations, with 97.2% of middle/high students and 100% of elementary students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. The most notable bright spot is the graduation rate at Marion County Middle/High School at 91.3%, which exceeds the state average of 87.2%—a meaningful achievement given the school's circumstances. In middle school math, 6th and 7th grade proficiency is nearly at state levels (39.3% vs. 40.7% and 41.9% vs. 42.0%, respectively), with 7th grade math improving by 12.6 points year-over-year. However, this strength fades by 8th grade, where math proficiency drops to 30.0%, a 16.3-point gap from the state. At L. K. Moss Elementary School, 4th grade math is the most concerning area, with just 20.6% proficiency—a 29.5-point gap from the state, the largest single-subject gap in either school.

Chronic absenteeism is a systemic issue, with both schools around 21.2–21.3%, about 3.5 points above the state average. Per-student spending is higher at the elementary school ($13,747 vs. $12,172), yet test scores remain well below state averages. Both schools have seen their state rankings slip over two years, suggesting district-wide challenges. Dramatic declines in 8th grade social studies (from 43.8% to 23.0%) and science (from 27.6% to 15.0%) at the middle/high school warrant attention. English Language Arts scores for the current year are not yet available; the most recent data from 2024–2025 showed both schools trailing state averages by roughly 10–20 points, but this should not be interpreted as a decline.