Clayton County

The Clayton County school district in Georgia consists of 67 schools, including 39 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, and 13 high schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district demonstrates a wide range of academic performance, with some standout schools like Elite Scholars Academy School and Martha Ellen Stilwell School for the Performing Arts significantly outperforming the county and state averages, while others struggle to meet proficiency standards.

The four-year graduation rates for high schools in the district range from 46.8% to 100%, with several schools exceeding the state average of 83.7%. Standardized test scores also vary widely, with proficiency rates on the Georgia Milestones assessments ranging from as low as 6.9% to as high as 89.1% in American Literature and Composition, compared to the county average of 24.2% and the state average of 42%. The majority of schools in the district have high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high levels of economic disadvantage, which appears to be linked to lower academic achievement.

While some schools in the district, such as the two charter schools Elite Scholars Academy School and Utopian Academy for the Arts Elementary School, demonstrate strong academic performance, the overall data suggests significant room for improvement in the Clayton County school district. Targeted interventions, resource allocation, and the sharing of best practices could help raise the bar for all students and address the observed performance disparities.