Schools in Zip Code 39897

Zip code 39897 in Whigham, Georgia, is home to a single school, Whigham Elementary School, a PK-8 institution serving 543 students in the Grady County district, where nearly 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Whigham Elementary is a clear academic leader within its district, consistently outperforming Grady County averages across most subjects and grade levels. Mathematics is the school’s standout strength, with proficiency rates exceeding state averages in five of six grade levels during the 2025-2026 school year. Third graders posted an impressive 65% proficiency rate, well above the state’s 48.3%, while 6th and 7th graders showed dramatic year-over-year gains of nearly 17 and 6.5 percentage points, respectively. The school also excels in 8th grade social studies, where 40.8% of students are proficient—nearly double the district’s 20.6% and essentially matching the state average. Science results are mixed: 5th grade exceeds state averages, but 8th grade lags slightly behind. The school’s overall ranking improved significantly, jumping from 488th to 388th in the state between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, placing it in the 68th percentile of Georgia schools.

Despite serving a high-poverty population, Whigham Elementary achieves results that match or exceed state averages in most subjects, a notable accomplishment. The school maintains a favorable 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio and spends $12,241 per student annually. Chronic absenteeism sits at 17.7%, matching the state average but higher than the district’s 14.9%. Areas for potential attention include 4th grade math, where proficiency falls below both district and state levels, and 8th grade science, which declined from the prior year. Overall, Whigham Elementary stands out as a high-performing, efficient school within its district, with particular strengths in mathematics and social studies, making it a solid choice for families in the Whigham area.