Best Public Schools in Atlanta, GA

The city of Atlanta, Georgia is home to 140 schools, including 80 elementary schools, 26 middle schools, 26 high schools, and 8 alternative schools. These schools serve students across a range of socioeconomic backgrounds and academic performance levels.

Some of the highest performing schools in the area include Heards Ferry Elementary School, which ranks 9th out of 1,248 Georgia elementary schools and has proficiency rates of 78-91% in core subjects. Morningside Elementary School and Springdale Park Elementary School also rank among the top elementary schools in the state, with proficiency rates over 70%. In contrast, some schools like D.M. Therrell High School and Benjamin E. Mays High School have proficiency rates under 25% in many subjects.

The data reveals significant disparities in academic performance across Atlanta's schools, which appear to be closely linked to factors like socioeconomic status, staffing, and funding levels. Schools with the highest proficiency rates tend to have lower free/reduced lunch rates, lower student-teacher ratios, and higher per-student spending. Addressing these inequities will be critical to improving outcomes for all students in the district. Several high-performing public charter and magnet schools, like Atlanta Classical Academy and Kittredge Magnet School, demonstrate that high levels of student achievement are possible with the right resources and programs.