Schools in Zip Code 39823

Zip code 39823, serving the Blakely area of Early County, Georgia, is home to three public schools within the Early County district: Early County Elementary School (grades PK-6), Early County Middle School (grades 7-8), and Early County High School (grades 9-12).

Across the board, these schools face significant academic challenges, with the district ranking in the 6th percentile statewide. Early County Elementary School is the strongest of the three, with relatively stable rankings in the 16-17th percentile range. Its 5th-grade science proficiency (37.2%) is the highest score in the zip code and just 7 points below the state average—a notable bright spot. In contrast, Early County Middle School is the lowest performer, with its state ranking falling to the 6th percentile. Its 8th-grade social studies proficiency (8.6%) represents a 31.6-point gap from the state, the largest single-subject gap in the data. Early County High School offers a counterintuitive success story: despite a 34.6% chronic absenteeism rate (nearly double the state average) and the lowest per-student spending ($14,845), it graduates students at 87.9%, exceeding the state average of 87.2%.

Math proficiency declines dramatically as students advance, falling from 27.2% in 3rd grade to just 6.3% in 6th grade—a 20.9-point drop. The middle school cliff is stark, with 7th-grade math at 8.2% and 8th-grade math at 16.2%. Chronic absenteeism worsens with age (19% elementary, 21.9% middle, 34.6% high school), likely compounding learning gaps. Notably, the middle school spends the most per student ($20,686) and has the best student-teacher ratio (7.6:1), yet produces the worst outcomes, suggesting resources alone aren't solving systemic challenges tied to poverty, as two schools report 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility.