Pooler Elementary School

Summary:

Pooler Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Pooler, Georgia, part of the Savannah-Chatham County School District. With 397 students, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Georgia elementary schools over the past decade, currently at 810 out of 1,248 schools.

Pooler Elementary faces significant challenges, with test scores on the Georgia Milestones assessments consistently below state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 36.1% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in ELA and Math, compared to 38.4% and 45.4% statewide, respectively. The school also has a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 57.82% to 67.76% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. While Pooler Elementary spends more per student than the state average, it performs significantly worse than higher-ranked schools in the district, such as Godley Station School and New Hampstead K-8 School.

Interestingly, South Effingham Elementary School, located just outside the Savannah-Chatham County district, significantly outperforms Pooler Elementary across all metrics, including much higher test scores, a lower free/reduced lunch rate, and lower spending per student. This suggests that factors beyond just funding and demographics may be contributing to the performance gap. Pooler Elementary's statewide ranking has also steadily declined over the past decade, from a high of 492 out of 1,231 schools in 2013-2014 to its current ranking of 810 out of 1,248 schools, indicating that the school is struggling to keep pace with improvements in other Georgia elementary schools.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 308 Holly Ave
       Pooler, GA  31322


(912) 395-3625

District: Savannah-Chatham County

SchoolDigger Rank:
810th of 1,248 Georgia Elementary Schools


Students who attend Pooler Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    West Chatham Middle School
High:    New Hampstead High School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.4 Help
Number of students:  397

Racial breakdown:

White:
37.5%
African American:
35.8%
Hispanic:
18.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  67.8% Help


 See top rated Georgia elementary schools

 Compare Pooler Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Pooler Elementary School ranks worse than 64.9% of elementary schools in Georgia. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 31.85. (See more...)
Finance
Schooldigger Rankings:

Pooler Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Savannah-Chatham County:

SchoolDigger ranks Savannah-Chatham County 128th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Pooler Elementary School?

Rank History for Pooler Elementary School

Help
Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools GA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 73.34 288th 1101 73.8%
2007 74.65 266th 1125 76.4%
2008 74.64 252nd 1134 77.8%
2009 65.77 406th 1133 64.2%
2010 57.51 574th 1183 51.5%
2011 48.87 734th 1212 39.4%
2012 63.15 519th 1201 56.8%
2013 69.51 399th 1225 67.4%
2014 65.67 492nd 1231 60.0%
2015 42.53 677th 1240 45.4%
2016 32.91 832nd 1233 32.5%
2017 28.14 873rd 1205 27.6%
2018 35.52 776th 1209 35.8%
2019 30.83 850th 1234 31.1%
2021 28.59 828th 1214 31.8%
2022 39.26 715th 1244 42.5%
2023 33.98 782nd 1242 37.0%
2024 31.85 810th 1248 35.1%
See the entire list of Georgia Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Georgia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Pooler Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4.3)
25%

75%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Saturday, July 29, 2017

Open Quote I love this school. The teachers are excellent and they really care about my child! Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Open Quote I love that this is a small neighborhood school. My son has been there since PreK and the school is one of the reasons why we bought our home where we did. There are lots of chances for parents to be involved (PTA, Field trips, Chances to read to students, Book Fairs, School Dances, events for fathers) They also do things like the annual 5k that get the community involved as well. My son has really thrived there. He has had amazing teachers and they have a great gifted program. The school keeps us well informed with notes sent home and online.

My son has gone on field trips to Oatland Island, a pumpkin patch, Savannah Children's theater, the Post Office, and the Airport. He loved being able to participate in Jump Rope for heart and he is proud to show his bulldog pride on spirit day. I can't say enough good things about PES Close Quote


Facebook Profile Picture by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, May 6, 2010

Open Quote The teachers are great. Its a small neighborhood school. My children have been there for 2 years now and I couldn't be happier. Chatham county's board of education leaves a lot to be desired. Black mold was found in the Pre K portable and the children were left in that building for almost a solid week after the mold was found. The School board showed very little interest in fixing the problem and as of 5/5/10 the entry to the new portable is mostly uncovered so the children and teachers are getting soaked when it rains. For the 2010-2011 school year we will be getting a new principal which is good because the current principal has become very complacent in her position. The asst principal Val Johnson does very little when it comes to discipline. As a volunteer parent I have seen children go to her for discipline issues and come back with candy. There is supposedly a zero tolerance policy on Bullying but My son's second grade class has several bullies in it 2 male 1 female and no matter how many complaints come to the office about these children nothing is done. They are still hitting, kicking, and making threats to the children. With the new change in leadership these problems should change. Pooler elementary is one of the better schools in Chatham county. Dr. Lockemy the superintendent is about as useful as a screen door on an outhouse. He talks about changes but the changes he wants to make include cutting special needs teachers, pre-k parent advocates, and other persons which parents need. There was even talk of Elementary school counselors and nurses being cut. This is unacceptable.

The school itself is good and will only get better when current administration leaves and is replaced by more competent personnel. It is the School board itself that blows more hot air than a hair dryer. Keep this in mind when moving to Chatham county. Currently if you live in Pooler your children will go to GROVES HIGH SCHOOL. this place is nothing but a daycare center. Students wander off during the day and no one is notified. There are gang problems in the area and this is just one of the worst schools in the state. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Pooler Elementary School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 569 569
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 582 582
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 567 567
1993 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 604 604
1994 438 195 4 0 2 n/a n/a 0 639
1995 445 230 7 1 1 n/a n/a 0 684
1996 445 230 7 1 1 n/a n/a 0 684
1997 448 242 8 3 2 n/a n/a 0 703
1998 475 198 13 8 2 n/a n/a 0 696
1999 503 208 12 12 1 n/a n/a 0 736
2000 318 150 14 11 2 n/a n/a 0 495
2001 299 186 14 13 2 n/a n/a 0 514
2002 248 93 23 8 1 n/a n/a 0 373
2003 248 93 23 8 1 n/a n/a 0 373
2004 259 78 16 12 1 n/a n/a 0 366
2005 270 66 20 9 0 n/a n/a 4 369
2006 267 53 22 13 0 n/a n/a 4 359
2007 277 51 23 12 0 n/a n/a 9 372
2008 294 83 13 19 0 n/a n/a 14 423
2009 289 113 22 25 0 n/a n/a 20 469
2010 299 144 32 27 0 2 8 0 512
2011 264 115 6 39 0 0 30 0 454
2012 288 139 3 44 1 0 30 0 505
2013 274 160 3 64 6 1 42 0 550
2014 306 140 5 46 5 1 44 0 547
2015 276 140 5 49 6 2 46 0 524
2016 292 123 6 51 7 2 46 0 527
2017 257 119 6 54 8 3 39 0 486
2018 215 126 9 69 6 0 41 0 466
2019 176 143 11 92 2 2 40 0 466
2020 177 151 7 94 2 1 36 0 468
2021 169 147 4 84 1 1 35 0 441
2022 178 145 8 77 2 2 27 0 439
2023 149 142 3 73 1 2 27 0 397

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pooler Elementary School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 569 33.0 17.2 21.1
1991 582 37.0 15.7 26.3
1992 567 37.0 15.3 27.3
1993 604 35.0 17.3 30.6
1994 639 39.0 16.4 26
1995 684 38.0 18.0 30.3
1996 684 38.0 18.0 30.3
1997 703 40.4 17.4 35
1998 696 41.1 16.9 34.1
1999 736 40.9 18.0 34
2000 495 28.8 17.2 29.9
2001 514 28.5 18.0 32.1
2002 373 24.4 15.3 25.5
2003 373 24.4 15.3 25.5
2004 366 26.6 13.8 23.5
2005 369 28.1 13.1 24.9
2006 359 27.5 13.1 26.5
2007 372 32.0 11.6 24
2008 423 35.5 11.9 24.7
2009 469 38.5 12.2 34.7
2010 512 39.5 12.9 44.3
2011 454 38.0 11.9 52.9
2012 505 39.5 12.7 60
2013 550 38.7 14.2 58.7
2014 547 39.0 14.0 58.5
2015 524 40.0 13.1 69.3
2016 527 38.0 13.8 59.6
2017 486 38.0 12.7 59.5
2018 466 38.0 12.2 50.9
2019 466 36.2 12.8 63.1
2020 468 38.2 12.2 59
2021 441 37.2 11.8 57.8
2022 439 35.1 12.5 n/a
2023 397 32.0 12.4 67.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Pooler Elementary School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 569 33.0 17.2 21.1
1991 582 37.0 15.7 26.3
1992 567 37.0 15.3 27.3
1993 604 35.0 17.3 30.6
1994 639 39.0 16.4 26
1995 684 38.0 18.0 30.3
1996 684 38.0 18.0 30.3
1997 703 40.4 17.4 35
1998 696 41.1 16.9 34.1
1999 736 40.9 18.0 34
2000 495 28.8 17.2 29.9
2001 514 28.5 18.0 32.1
2002 373 24.4 15.3 25.5
2003 373 24.4 15.3 25.5
2004 366 26.6 13.8 23.5
2005 369 28.1 13.1 24.9
2006 359 27.5 13.1 26.5
2007 372 32.0 11.6 24
2008 423 35.5 11.9 24.7
2009 469 38.5 12.2 34.7
2010 512 39.5 12.9 44.3
2011 454 38.0 11.9 52.9
2012 505 39.5 12.7 60
2013 550 38.7 14.2 58.7
2014 547 39.0 14.0 58.5
2015 524 40.0 13.1 69.3
2016 527 38.0 13.8 59.6
2017 486 38.0 12.7 59.5
2018 466 38.0 12.2 50.9
2019 466 36.2 12.8 63.1
2020 468 38.2 12.2 59
2021 441 37.2 11.8 57.8
2022 439 35.1 12.5 n/a
2023 397 32.0 12.4 67.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pooler Elementary School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017 $1,220 (10.9%) $9,945 (89.1%) $11,165
2018 $1,042 (9.3%) $10,162 (90.7%) $11,205
2019 $698 (6.1%) $10,758 (93.9%) $11,456

Data source: Georgia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pooler Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 850th of 1234 Elementary schoolsRanks 782nd of 1242 Elementary schools
 5.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pooler Elementary School)3130
 1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Savannah-Chatham County)28.129.5
 1.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4238.6
 3.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Pooler Elementary School)46.632.7
 13.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Savannah-Chatham County)39.636.9
 2.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Georgia)5245.6
 6.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pooler Elementary School)24.621.9
 2.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Savannah-Chatham County)28.523.6
 4.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4236.1
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pooler Elementary School)33.820
 13.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Savannah-Chatham County)35.231.8
 3.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)4945.7
 3.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pooler Elementary School)31.843.9
 12.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Savannah-Chatham County)29.829.2
 0.6%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4541.6
 3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pooler Elementary School)36.439
 2.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Savannah-Chatham County)27.625
 2.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)4137.4
 3.6%
5th Grade Science (Pooler Elementary School)24.626.8
 2.2%
   5th Grade Science (Savannah-Chatham County)27.728.6
 0.9%
   5th Grade Science (Georgia)4340
 3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students466397
 14.8%
African American143142
 0.7%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian113
 72.7%
Hispanic9273
 20.7%
Pacific Islander22
White176149
 15.3%
Two or More Races4027
 32.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients63.1%67.8%
 4.7%


Schools Near Pooler Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Pooler Elementary School

Pooler Elementary School ranks 810th of 1248 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Pooler Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : West Chatham Middle School
High : New Hampstead High School

Students at Pooler Elementary School are 38% White, 36% African American, 18% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 397 students attended Pooler Elementary School.


Rate Pooler Elementary School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Pooler Elementary School!




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 86 milliseconds.