Schools in Zip Code 39817

Zip code 39817 in Bainbridge, Georgia, is served by four schools—three elementary/primary schools and one K-11 charter school—that collectively educate about 2,484 students, all of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For parents, the standout option in this area is Spring Creek Charter Academy, which is the only school serving students beyond 5th grade and the only one with End of Course test data. Despite being classified as an alternative school, it posts the strongest results in several areas: its 5th grade science proficiency (47.8%) and US History EOC scores (57.9%) both exceed state averages, and its 3rd grade math proficiency (52.2%) is nearly double that of Hutto Elementary School (31.5%). Spring Creek also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the zip code at 15.2%, below the state average of 17.7%. In contrast, Hutto Elementary has seen its statewide ranking plummet from the 52nd percentile to the 22nd percentile over two years, with math proficiency stuck between 26% and 32%. The two primary schools—Jones-Wheat Primary School and West Bainbridge Primary School—serve the youngest students (PK-2) but struggle with chronic absenteeism rates of 30.7% and 33.8%, respectively, nearly double the state average.

All four schools operate under high-poverty conditions, yet outcomes vary widely, suggesting school-level factors matter. Decatur County ranks in the 14th percentile statewide, while Spring Creek operates under the State Specialty Schools II district. Notably, Spring Creek showed significant year-over-year gains in 8th grade science (23.5% to 40.7%), social studies (18.2% to 43.8%), and math (20.6% to 37.5%), suggesting recent interventions are working. With no dedicated middle school in the zip code, families face a transition point after 5th grade. Per-student spending ranges from $12,075 at Hutto to $14,453 at Jones-Wheat, but higher spending doesn't correlate with better outcomes. English Language Arts scores for 2025-2026 are not yet released; the most recent data shows both Hutto and Spring Creek below state averages.