Summary:
Zip code 39828, serving the Cairo, Georgia area, is home to four public schools in the Grady County district, enrolling roughly 3,293 students across elementary, middle, and high school grades, with all schools serving a predominantly low-income population.
For parents, the standout story is Washington Middle School's exceptional Algebra I program, where 100% of tested students scored proficient or above—far exceeding district and state averages. However, this success contrasts sharply with the school's general math scores: only 25.8% of 6th graders and 32% of 7th graders meet proficiency, and 8th grade science (10.9%) and social studies (13.0%) proficiency rates are less than half the state averages. Cairo High School shows steady improvement, climbing from the 44th to 51st percentile in state rankings over three years, with a 90.3% graduation rate and a 1.3% dropout rate—both better than state averages—despite 89.6% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. Among elementary schools, Eastside Elementary School is the rising star, jumping 15 percentage points in state ranking to the 40th percentile, while Southside Elementary School lags at the 21st percentile despite having the highest per-student spending ($13,522).
Across the district, chronic absenteeism is a relative bright spot, with all four schools below the state average of 17.7%, led by Eastside at 12.8%. Yet science and social studies are consistent weaknesses at every grade level, with proficiency rates often less than half of state benchmarks. Year-over-year scores at the elementary level swing dramatically—Southside's 5th grade science dropped from 39.1% to 15.9%—suggesting small cohorts and caution when interpreting single-year data. The district's pockets of excellence, particularly Washington Middle's Algebra I program, demonstrate that high achievement is possible in this high-poverty population, offering a potential model for improvement in other subjects.
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