Summary:
Zip code 39897 is home to a single elementary school, Whigham Elementary School, a PK-8 campus in Whigham, Georgia, serving 543 students within the Grady County school district.
Whigham Elementary stands out as a strong academic performer, particularly in mathematics, despite nearly 80% of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. In the most recent testing year, the school beat the state average in math for five of six grade levels, with 3rd grade proficiency at 65%—roughly 17 points above the state. The school also consistently outperforms its district by wide margins; for example, 7th grade math proficiency hit 61% versus the district's 38.7%. Science and social studies results are similarly strong, with 8th grade social studies (40.8%) doubling the district rate and slightly exceeding the state. The school's state ranking has improved over three years, moving from the 61st to the 68th percentile, and it currently holds a 3-star rating.
There are areas for growth. In 4th grade math, the school (44.3%) falls below both district (50.0%) and state (50.1%) averages, a decline from the prior year. English Language Arts results from the most recent available data show the school trailing the state in 3rd, 6th, and 7th grades, with 6th grade proficiency at just 26.7% versus the state's 41.3%. Chronic absenteeism (17.7%) matches the state average but runs higher than the district's 14.9%. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1 and per-student spending of $12,241, the school has solid resources. The notable year-over-year gains in upper-grade math—6th grade jumped nearly 17 points—suggest positive momentum, though the 4th grade dip and 6th grade ELA struggles may signal transition points that deserve extra support.
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