Summary:
The city of Clarkesville, Georgia is home to three schools: two elementary schools (Clarkesville Elementary School and Woodville Elementary School) and one middle school (North Habersham Middle School). Among these schools, North Habersham Middle School stands out as the top performer, consistently ranking among the best in the state and outpacing the Habersham County and Georgia averages on standardized tests.
North Habersham Middle School's exceptional performance is evident in its statewide ranking of 79th out of 588 Georgia middle schools and its 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's test scores are significantly higher than the county and state averages, with 97.5% of students proficient or better in Algebra I, compared to 61% in Habersham County and 44% statewide. In contrast, the two elementary schools, while performing reasonably well, do not match the level of excellence demonstrated by the middle school, with lower statewide rankings and test scores closer to the county and state averages.
The data suggests that factors beyond just funding, as measured by spending per student, may contribute to the academic performance differences between the schools. The student-teacher ratios are relatively consistent across the schools, indicating that this metric alone does not fully explain the disparities. The free/reduced lunch rates, which can be used as a proxy for socioeconomic status, show that North Habersham Middle School has a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students compared to the elementary schools, which may be a contributing factor to its stronger academic outcomes.
Thank you for your feedback!