Summary:
Zip code 39823, serving the Blakely, Georgia area, is home to just one elementary school, Early County Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 6 and enrolls 758 students in the Early County district.
For parents considering this school, the most important takeaway is that Early County Elementary School serves a student body where 100% qualify for free/reduced lunch, and it faces significant academic challenges. The school consistently ranks in the bottom fifth of Georgia elementary schools, holding a 1-star rating and ranking 1010 out of 1219 schools for the 2025-2026 year. In the most recent math scores, proficiency rates range from 27.2% in 3rd grade down to just 6.3% in 6th grade, compared to state averages of 48.3% and 40.7% respectively. Science proficiency in 5th grade is the relative bright spot at 37.2%, just 7 points below the state average. The most recent ELA data (from 2024-2025) shows proficiency between 13.9% and 24.4% across grades, with the gap versus the state widening from 12 points in 3rd grade to 27 points in 6th grade.
There are some encouraging signs. The school saw a remarkable 16.2-point jump in 5th grade science proficiency, and 5th grade math improved by 6.3 points. Chronic absenteeism at 19.0% is notably better than the district average of 24.8%, though still above the state's 17.7%. The school also invests heavily in its students, spending $15,945 per pupil with a favorable 11:1 student-teacher ratio. However, the most concerning pattern is the steep decline in proficiency by 6th grade — a 20-point drop in math from 3rd to 6th grade that far exceeds the state's own 7.6-point decline. This suggests cumulative learning gaps or transition challenges that parents should be aware of as their children approach middle school.
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