George W. Whitlow Elementary

Q: Is George W. Whitlow Elementary a good school?

George W. Whitlow Elementary ranks 139 th of 1248 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

George W. Whitlow Elementary is a public elementary school in Cumming, Georgia, serving 1,181 students in grades PK-5 and part of the highly-ranked Forsyth County School District.

George W. Whitlow Elementary has consistently ranked among the top elementary schools in Georgia, with strong academic performance on the Milestones Assessment that often exceeds nearby schools like Midway Elementary, Vickery Creek Elementary, and Sawnee Elementary. However, Daves Creek Elementary and New Hope Elementary stand out as the top-performing schools in the area. The school also has a relatively low percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients and a favorable student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools.

George W. Whitlow Elementary's consistent high performance, proximity to other top-performing schools, and socioeconomic diversity in the area suggest a competitive and collaborative environment that may contribute to the school's continued success. With strong academic achievement, efficient resource allocation, and a focus on student learning, George W. Whitlow Elementary is a high-quality option for families in the Cumming community.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

3655 Castleberry Rd
Cumming, GA 30040

(678) 965-5090

District: Forsyth County

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,723

Students who attend George W. Whitlow Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Otwell Middle School
High:	Forsyth Central High School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.1

Number of students: 1,237

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

41.1%

White:

29.3%

Hispanic:

20.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 30.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details George W. Whitlow Elementary ranks better than 88.9% of elementary schools in Georgia. It also ranks 10^th among 21 ranked elementary schools in the Forsyth County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.8. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at George W. Whitlow Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (41.1%), White (29.3%), Hispanic (20%). (See more...)

Compare Details 30.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at George W. Whitlow Elementary is 13.1, which is the 3^rd best among 21 elementary schools in the Forsyth County School District. (See more...)

Compare George W. Whitlow Elementary employs 93.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at George W. Whitlow Elementary is $9,723, which is the 6^th highest among 21 elementary schools in the Forsyth County School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

George W. Whitlow Elementary 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 George W. Whitlow Elementary.

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Rank History for George W. Whitlow Elementary

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	GA State Percentile
2011	81.27	184^th	1212	84.8%
2012	83.49	114^th	1201	90.5%
2013	83.49	108^th	1225	91.2%
2014	78.20	226^th	1231	81.6%
2015	93.19	79^th	1240	93.6%
2016	92.11	88^th	1233	92.9%
2017	85.36	151^st	1205	87.5%
2018	93.51	76^th	1209	93.7%
2019	92.57	90^th	1234	92.7%
2021	93.89	80^th	1214	93.4%
2022	93.66	87^th	1244	93.0%
2023	86.01	171^st	1242	86.2%
2024	89.80	139^th	1248	88.9%

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: 3.7)

60%

10%

30%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, March 4, 2021

Math teachers are the worst, which is ironic, since it is a STEAM school. LOL Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, March 2, 2020

My son attended Whitlow from 4th to 5th grade and my daughter is currently enrolled in her 3rd year of special education pre-K.

Having moved from out of state when my son was in the 4th grade, I can tell you that Whitlow was LIGHT YEARS ahead of my sons highly rated school in Tennessee. He was utterly lost in math and science when we moved because of the higher level of learning at Whitlow Elementary. He caught up quickly with the help of several talented teachers and is in AP classes in high school.

My daughter has developmental delays but has blossomed at Whitlow Pre-K. Her teachers and paras are compassionate AND passionate about learning. It is too much to describe, but know that it seems like they truly care about her development as much as I do, which is almost impossible.

Administration is responsive and forward thinking. They’ve responded professionally in the couple emails I’ve sent with concerns (mainly about drop off and pickup-nothing to do with the academic atmosphere or specific teachers or issues)

I can’t say enough about Whitlow and will support this school forever. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, January 20, 2017

My child transferred here from another Forysth County school. I don't like how they run the school or deal with children. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, February 9, 2012

We have had very good experiences with the fairly new WES since moving into the district about 3 years ago. The teachers care about their impact on the children they teach by addressing their needs, as well as those of their parents. The school nurse is very helpful and accommodates both the child and his or her family in a prompt manner. In other words, they take the business of educating our children very seriously which extends even to the bus drivers whom we have learned to love and respect. Close Quote

Enrollment information for George W. Whitlow Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	604	57	86	219	4	0	24	994
2011	649	53	113	230	2	2	31	1080
2012	658	57	123	237	4	2	27	1108
2013	625	51	127	244	6	3	30	1086
2014	663	59	136	235	7	2	32	1134
2015	653	60	149	248	9	2	19	1140
2016	614	65	152	279	7	3	26	1146
2017	600	78	152	301	7	2	33	1173
2018	576	82	214	316	7	1	37	1233
2019	606	103	281	310	10	1	45	1356
2020	577	88	342	309	10	1	47	1374
2021	527	80	388	290	10	1	42	1338
2022	523	70	452	288	12	1	49	1395
2023	375	71	422	263	9	1	40	1181
2024	363	73	508	247	8	1	37	1237

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 George W. Whitlow Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	994	63.0	15.7	27.7
2011	1080	73.0	14.7	28.4
2012	1108	74.0	14.9	30.4
2013	1086	71.0	15.2	30.8
2014	1134	76.0	14.9	31.6
2015	1140	79.0	14.4	30.8
2016	1146	76.0	15.0	30.5
2017	1173	78.0	15.0	33.2
2018	1233	83.4	14.7	31
2019	1356	91.0	14.9	28
2020	1374	97.3	14.1	25.5
2021	1338	94.0	14.2	21.2
2022	1395	96.2	14.5	n/a
2023	1181	88.9	13.2	21.8
2024	1237	93.8	13.1	30.2

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 George W. Whitlow Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	994	63.0	15.7	27.7
2011	1080	73.0	14.7	28.4
2012	1108	74.0	14.9	30.4
2013	1086	71.0	15.2	30.8
2014	1134	76.0	14.9	31.6
2015	1140	79.0	14.4	30.8
2016	1146	76.0	15.0	30.5
2017	1173	78.0	15.0	33.2
2018	1233	83.4	14.7	31
2019	1356	91.0	14.9	28
2020	1374	97.3	14.1	25.5
2021	1338	94.0	14.2	21.2
2022	1395	96.2	14.5	n/a
2023	1181	88.9	13.2	21.8
2024	1237	93.8	13.1	30.2

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 George W. Whitlow Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$788 (8.9%)	$8,082 (91.1%)	$8,870
2018	$167 (1.7%)	$9,585 (98.3%)	$9,752
2019	$140 (1.4%)	$9,583 (98.6%)	$9,723

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on George W. Whitlow Elementary

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 90^th of 1234 Elementary schools	Ranks 171^st of 1242 Elementary schools	6.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (George W. Whitlow Elementary)	67.4	46.6	20.8%
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 (George W. Whitlow Elementary)	71.8	58.6	13.2%
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 (George W. Whitlow Elementary)	71.7	59.2	12.5%
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 (George W. Whitlow Elementary)	72.2	68.5	3.7%
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 (George W. Whitlow Elementary)	71.8	60.7	11.1%
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 (George W. Whitlow Elementary)	74.9	67.2	7.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Forsyth County)	74.5	68.3	6.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	41	37.4	3.6%
5th Grade Science (George W. Whitlow Elementary)	68.3	64.4	3.9%
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	1356	1181	12.9%
African American	103	71	31.1%
American Indian	10	9	10%
Asian	281	422	50.2%
Hispanic	310	263	15.2%
Pacific Islander	1	1
White	606	375	38.1%
Two or More Races	45	40	11.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	28%	21.8%	6.2%

Schools Near George W. Whitlow Elementary

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
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
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
Shiloh Point Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8145 Majors Rd	Cumming	30041	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(678) 341-6481	1,069	72	14.9	12.3%	236 (22.1%)	31 (2.9%)	98 (9.2%)	659 (61.6%)	10 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (3.3%)	94.5	76^th of 1248 public elementary schools	93.9%		93.8	87^th of 1242 public elementary schools	93.0%	11	60.9	61.2	78.7	76.3	77.0	76.3	74.9	$9,362	$133	$9,230
Mashburn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3777 Samples Rd	Cumming	30041	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(770) 889-1630	1,096	67	16.3	28.1%	413 (37.7%)	37 (3.4%)	177 (16.1%)	417 (38.0%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	46 (4.2%)	88.3	152^nd of 1248 public elementary schools	87.8%		89.9	136^th of 1242 public elementary schools	89.0%	16	58.3	61.0	59.2	70.2	76.3	66.8	60.9	$10,424	$133	$10,291
Daves Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3740 Melody Mizer Ln	Cumming	30041	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(770) 888-1222	1,016	71	14.3	8.4%	93 (9.2%)	30 (3.0%)	35 (3.4%)	835 (82.2%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (1.8%)	99.2	5^th of 1248 public elementary schools	99.6%		99.5	3^rd of 1242 public elementary schools	99.8%	2	85.1	81.8	88.8	91.7	96.4	92.0	83.9	$8,583	$133	$8,450
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
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
Haw Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2555 Echols Rd	Cumming	30041	Forsyth County	Forsyth County	No	No	No	No	(678) 965-5070	837	61	13.6	15.1%	451 (53.9%)	27 (3.2%)	65 (7.8%)	253 (30.2%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (4.4%)	94	81^st of 1248 public elementary schools	93.5%		96.5	49^th of 1242 public elementary schools	96.1%	32	66.2	59.5	70.4	75.9	84.1	76.5	70.6	$8,944	$134	$8,811

Frequently Asked Questions about George W. Whitlow Elementary

What is the racial makeup of George W. Whitlow Elementary?

Students at George W. Whitlow Elementary are 41% Asian, 29% White, 20% Hispanic, 6% African American, 3% Two or more races.

What district is George W. Whitlow Elementary in?

Forsyth County

How many students attend George W. Whitlow Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,237 students attended George W. Whitlow Elementary.

Is George W. Whitlow Elementary a good school?

George W. Whitlow Elementary ranks 139^th of 1248 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of George W. Whitlow Elementary attend?

Students who attend George W. Whitlow Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Otwell Middle School
High : Forsyth Central High School

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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.