Sawnee Elementary School

Q: Is Sawnee Elementary School a good school?

Sawnee Elementary School ranks 225 th of 1248 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Sawnee Elementary School is a high-performing public elementary school in Cumming, Georgia, serving 1,720 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Forsyth County School District, which is ranked 10th out of 203 districts in the state.

Sawnee Elementary consistently outperforms the state average on the Milestones Assessment, with 5th-grade students scoring 58.9% proficient or better in English Language Arts compared to the state average of 48.2%, and 4th-grade students scoring 68.8% proficient or better in Mathematics compared to the state average of 48.1%. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 16.6 to 17.7 over the past three years, and higher per-student spending compared to the state average, suggesting access to more resources and funding to support student learning. Additionally, Sawnee Elementary has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 15.7% to 15.99%, indicating a more affluent student population compared to some nearby schools like Chattahoochee Elementary (39.09%) and Cumming Elementary (55.21%).

While Sawnee Elementary is a high-performing school, it is not the highest-performing in the immediate area. Schools like New Hope Elementary, Vickery Creek Elementary, and George W. Whitlow Elementary have even higher proficiency rates in certain subject areas and grade levels, suggesting the Forsyth County School District as a whole is providing a high-quality education with several exceptional elementary schools in the region.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1616 Canton Hwy
Cumming, GA 30040

(770) 887-6161

District: Forsyth County

SchoolDigger Rank:
225^th of 1,248 Georgia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,605

Students who attend Sawnee Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:

Hendricks Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.2

Number of students: 1,831

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

41.4%

White:

38.9%

Hispanic:

12.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 20.9%

See top rated Georgia elementary schools

Compare Sawnee Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Sawnee Elementary School ranks better than 82% of elementary schools in Georgia. It also ranks 16^th among 21 ranked elementary schools in the Forsyth County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 80.48. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Sawnee Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Forsyth County School District. Student population at Sawnee Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (41.4%), White (38.9%), Hispanic (12.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 20.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sawnee Elementary School is 17.2, which is the highest among 21 elementary schools in the Forsyth County School District! (See more...)

Compare Sawnee Elementary School employs 106.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sawnee Elementary School is $8,605. 16 elementary schools in the Forsyth County School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Forsyth County:

SchoolDigger ranks Forsyth County 10^th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Sawnee Elementary School.

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Rank History for Sawnee Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	GA State Percentile
2006	79.40	166^th	1101	84.9%
2007	77.00	221^st	1125	80.4%
2008	83.95	117^th	1134	89.7%
2009	84.61	110^th	1133	90.3%
2010	82.48	148^th	1183	87.5%
2011	84.20	120^th	1212	90.1%
2012	81.92	150^th	1201	87.5%
2013	79.13	213^th	1225	82.6%
2014	78.82	206^th	1231	83.3%
2015	87.72	131^st	1240	89.4%
2016	86.65	137^th	1233	88.9%
2017	85.66	147^th	1205	87.8%
2018	86.02	150^th	1209	87.6%
2019	81.09	213^th	1234	82.7%
2021	78.35	245^th	1214	79.8%
2022	87.75	146^th	1244	88.3%
2023	85.79	173^rd	1242	86.1%
2024	80.48	225^th	1248	82.0%

See the entire list of Georgia Elementary School Rankings!

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

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)

75%

25%

Reviews:

by a parent
Tuesday, April 23, 2019

We moved around in Forsyth county due to rezoning. Our son went to Big Creek, Brandywine and now Sawnee. Comparing to Big Creek, this school does a lot more to keep parents and community engaged with their kids. The teachers are informed and educated. Not sure about ranking criteria, of course this area has a mix of homes of different income categories so kids come from different backgrounds, but the school tries it’s best and a little help from parents can make this school rank well. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Poor, passive leadership. Bullying is ignored, even tolerated, and that is not acceptable. To make it worse, some teachers engage in this behavior as well. If a student does not feel safe at school, that school has failed. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Sawnee Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1998	429	0	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	434
1999	484	0	3	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	496
2000	532	1	3	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	549
2001	548	1	1	17	2	n/a	n/a	0	569
2002	327	1	4	12	2	n/a	n/a	0	346
2003	327	1	4	12	2	n/a	n/a	0	346
2004	376	2	4	26	2	n/a	n/a	0	410
2005	404	2	5	27	0	n/a	n/a	6	444
2006	432	6	8	45	1	n/a	n/a	11	503
2007	461	8	15	60	1	n/a	n/a	12	557
2008	1115	21	36	182	2	n/a	n/a	37	1393
2009	1159	27	40	190	1	n/a	n/a	49	1466
2010	1144	46	55	238	12	1	40	0	1536
2011	1177	48	60	256	10	1	39	0	1591
2012	1231	40	69	263	11	0	44	0	1658
2013	940	29	33	214	9	1	29	0	1255
2014	889	28	34	236	9	1	37	0	1234
2015	879	33	39	238	7	1	36	0	1233
2016	924	33	51	258	5	1	36	0	1308
2017	918	33	69	259	5	1	43	0	1328
2018	968	44	82	252	5	0	53	0	1404
2019	979	60	108	265	4	0	59	0	1475
2020	982	74	155	293	2	0	60	0	1566
2021	826	60	210	261	3	0	54	0	1414
2022	844	68	344	259	9	0	58	0	1582
2023	776	71	544	257	12	0	60	0	1720
2024	712	65	758	232	16	0	48	0	1831

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 Sawnee Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	434	46.0	9.4	15.4
1999	496	30.5	16.3	16.7
2000	549	33.0	16.6	14
2001	569	39.5	14.4	14.1
2002	346	28.5	12.1	13.9
2003	346	28.5	12.1	13.9
2004	410	26.5	15.5	16.3
2005	444	33.0	13.5	15.1
2006	503	37.6	13.4	20.3
2007	557	44.0	12.7	20.9
2008	1393	106.0	13.1	21.7
2009	1466	102.5	14.3	20.5
2010	1536	98.0	15.6	23.5
2011	1591	95.5	16.6	23.9
2012	1658	100.5	16.4	22.5
2013	1255	79.0	15.8	29.3
2014	1234	78.0	15.8	29
2015	1233	81.0	15.2	27.2
2016	1308	84.0	15.5	26.9
2017	1328	87.0	15.2	24.3
2018	1404	89.0	15.7	22.6
2019	1475	90.0	16.3	19.3
2020	1566	93.0	16.8	18
2021	1414	85.0	16.6	15.7
2022	1582	89.0	17.7	n/a
2023	1720	98.9	17.3	16
2024	1831	106.4	17.2	20.9

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 Sawnee Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	434	46.0	9.4	15.4
1999	496	30.5	16.3	16.7
2000	549	33.0	16.6	14
2001	569	39.5	14.4	14.1
2002	346	28.5	12.1	13.9
2003	346	28.5	12.1	13.9
2004	410	26.5	15.5	16.3
2005	444	33.0	13.5	15.1
2006	503	37.6	13.4	20.3
2007	557	44.0	12.7	20.9
2008	1393	106.0	13.1	21.7
2009	1466	102.5	14.3	20.5
2010	1536	98.0	15.6	23.5
2011	1591	95.5	16.6	23.9
2012	1658	100.5	16.4	22.5
2013	1255	79.0	15.8	29.3
2014	1234	78.0	15.8	29
2015	1233	81.0	15.2	27.2
2016	1308	84.0	15.5	26.9
2017	1328	87.0	15.2	24.3
2018	1404	89.0	15.7	22.6
2019	1475	90.0	16.3	19.3
2020	1566	93.0	16.8	18
2021	1414	85.0	16.6	15.7
2022	1582	89.0	17.7	n/a
2023	1720	98.9	17.3	16
2024	1831	106.4	17.2	20.9

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 Sawnee Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$150 (1.8%)	$8,243 (98.2%)	$8,393
2018	$156 (1.8%)	$8,392 (98.2%)	$8,548
2019	$163 (1.9%)	$8,442 (98.1%)	$8,605

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sawnee 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 213^th of 1234 Elementary schools	Ranks 173^rd of 1242 Elementary schools	3.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sawnee Elementary School)	55.9	56.3	0.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Forsyth County)	67.8	60.9	6.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	42	38.6	3.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sawnee Elementary School)	64.8	65.7	0.9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Forsyth County)	77.6	71.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	52	45.6	6.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Sawnee Elementary School)	70	57.1	12.9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Forsyth County)	71.7	56.8	14.9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	42	36.1	5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sawnee Elementary School)	74.4	74.3	0.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Forsyth County)	79.8	72.3	7.5%
4th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	49	45.7	3.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Sawnee Elementary School)	56.9	51.9	5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Forsyth County)	72.3	63.7	8.6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	45	41.6	3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sawnee Elementary School)	53.1	66	12.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Forsyth County)	74.5	68.3	6.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	41	37.4	3.6%
5th Grade Science (Sawnee Elementary School)	51.9	52.2	0.3%
5th Grade Science (Forsyth County)	70.5	62.1	8.4%
5th Grade Science (Georgia)	43	40	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1475	1720	16.6%
African American	60	71	18.3%
American Indian	4	12	200%
Asian	108	544	403.7%
Hispanic	265	257	3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	979	776	20.7%
Two or More Races	59	60	1.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	19.3%	16%	3.3%

Schools Near Sawnee Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2024)			Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2024)			Milestones Assessment Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sawnee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1616 Canton Hwy	Cumming	30040	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(770) 887-6161	1,831	106	17.2	20.9%	712 (38.9%)	65 (3.5%)	232 (12.7%)	758 (41.4%)	16 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (2.6%)	80.5	225^th of 1248 public elementary schools	82.0%		85.8	173^rd of 1242 public elementary schools	86.1%	52	49.0	48.3	58.9	62.6	68.8	64.6	53.2	$8,605	$163	$8,442
Kelly Mill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1180 Chamblee Gap Rd	Cumming	30040	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(678) 965-4953	1,052	66	15.9	15.6%	582 (55.3%)	56 (5.3%)	117 (11.1%)	235 (22.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (5.7%)	87.2	161^st of 1248 public elementary schools	87.1%		92.6	100^th of 1242 public elementary schools	91.9%	61	54.3	62.7	66.1	68.5	78.2	66.7	51.9	$8,817	$136	$8,681
Cumming Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	540 Dahlonega St	Cumming	30040	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 887-7749	948	81	11.7	61.6%	349 (36.8%)	65 (6.9%)	445 (46.9%)	51 (5.4%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (3.6%)	46.1	609^th of 1248 public elementary schools	51.2%		46.8	596^th of 1242 public elementary schools	52.0%	13	34.2	33.3	41.3	41.1	47.7	40.0	31.3	$12,349	$1,255	$11,094
Matt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7455 Wallace Tatum Rd	Cumming	30028	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(678) 455-4500	1,130	80	14.2	21.1%	694 (61.4%)	29 (2.6%)	126 (11.2%)	226 (20.0%)	6 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (4.3%)	86.9	165^th of 1248 public elementary schools	86.8%		82.3	203^rd of 1242 public elementary schools	83.7%	38	56.1	61.3	62.2	68.3	73.7	58.4	59.8	$9,282	$195	$9,088
George W. Whitlow Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3655 Castleberry Rd	Cumming	30040	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(678) 965-5090	1,237	94	13.1	30.2%	363 (29.3%)	73 (5.9%)	247 (20.0%)	508 (41.1%)	8 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	37 (3.0%)	89.8	139^th of 1248 public elementary schools	88.9%		86	171^st of 1242 public elementary schools	86.2%	32	54.0	52.8	76.8	68.5	68.5	79.8	68.5	$9,723	$140	$9,583
New Hope Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4810 Castleberry Road	Cumming	30040	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(678) 965-5101	1,143	72	15.8	15.4%	344 (30.1%)	41 (3.6%)	112 (9.8%)	595 (52.1%)	6 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (3.9%)	94.2	79^th of 1248 public elementary schools	93.7%					(n/a)	70.4	65.6	69.9	79.5	89.2	71.0	63.7
Poole's Mill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7110 Heardsville Rd	Cumming	30028	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(770) 888-1285	1,197	80	14.9	22.8%	612 (51.1%)	43 (3.6%)	158 (13.2%)	332 (27.7%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	46 (3.8%)	69.6	348^th of 1248 public elementary schools	72.1%		62.9	420^th of 1242 public elementary schools	66.2%	72	48.9	37.9	55.9	52.2	57.6	54.7	47.8
Coal Mountain Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3455 Coal Mountain Dr	Cumming	30028	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(770) 887-7705	760	56	13.5	32.6%	454 (59.7%)	67 (8.8%)	120 (15.8%)	73 (9.6%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (5.4%)	63.9	408^th of 1248 public elementary schools	67.3%		63.8	411^th of 1242 public elementary schools	66.9%	3	37.1	47.4	45.5	48.4	65.5	56.1	38.6	$10,439	$316	$10,123
Chattahoochee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2800 Holtzclaw Rd	Cumming	30041	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 781-2240	800	67	11.9	53.1%	471 (58.9%)	18 (2.3%)	261 (32.6%)	16 (2.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (4.0%)	64.7	402^nd of 1248 public elementary schools	67.8%		71.1	326^th of 1242 public elementary schools	73.8%	76	56.1	31.8	55.9	56.1	47.3	46.9	42.3	$10,238	$146	$10,093
Vickery Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6280 Post Rd	Cumming	30040	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(770) 346-0040	1,118	67	16.6	10.0%	660 (59.0%)	33 (3.0%)	79 (7.1%)	299 (26.7%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (3.8%)	89.4	144^th of 1248 public elementary schools	88.5%		88	149^th of 1242 public elementary schools	88.0%	5	63.0	49.7	65.1	78.8	78.7	73.6	59.0	$7,898	$133	$7,765

Frequently Asked Questions about Sawnee Elementary School

Is Sawnee Elementary School a good school?

Sawnee Elementary School ranks 225^th of 1248 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Sawnee Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Hendricks Middle School

How many students attend Sawnee Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,831 students attended Sawnee Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Sawnee Elementary School?

Students at Sawnee Elementary School are 41% Asian, 39% White, 13% Hispanic, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Sawnee Elementary School in?

Forsyth County

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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.