Dawson Elementary School

Summary:

Dawson Elementary School is a public elementary school in Columbus, Georgia, serving 309 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Muscogee County School District, which is ranked 155 out of 203 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dawson Elementary has consistently struggled with low academic performance, ranking in the bottom 10% of Georgia elementary schools over the past several years. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 22% of 3rd graders, 10.9% of 4th graders, and 14.6% of 5th graders at Dawson Elementary were proficient or better in English Language Arts, significantly lower than the Dawson Elementary and state averages. The school also has an extremely high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 96.44% to 96.77%, which is much higher than the surrounding schools in the district.

Despite spending more per student ($10,203 to $10,417) than the nearby schools, which range from $8,012 to $11,031 per student, Dawson Elementary is not seeing commensurate improvements in academic performance. The school also has a higher student-teacher ratio (13.7 to 16.6) compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 12.3 to 19.5 students per teacher. These factors suggest that Dawson Elementary faces significant challenges in terms of academic achievement, poverty concentration, and effective resource allocation that will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach to address.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 180 Northstar Dr
       Columbus, GA  31907


(706) 683-8732

District: Muscogee County

SchoolDigger Rank:
1208th of 1,248 Georgia Elementary Schools


Students who attend Dawson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    East Columbus Magnet Academy

Student/teacher ratio:  16.6 Help
Number of students:  309

Racial breakdown:

African American:
83.8%
Two or more races:
7.8%
White:
4.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  96.4% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Dawson Elementary School ranks worse than 96.8% of elementary schools in Georgia. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.97. (See more...)
Finance
Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Muscogee County:

SchoolDigger ranks Muscogee County 155th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Dawson Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools GA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 30.33 855th 1101 22.3%
2007 40.34 763rd 1125 32.2%
2008 17.67 1016th 1134 10.4%
2009 30.11 891st 1133 21.4%
2010 19.88 1033rd 1183 12.7%
2011 4.01 1184th 1212 2.3%
2012 15.66 1068th 1201 11.1%
2013 14.71 1086th 1225 11.3%
2014 15.21 1094th 1231 11.1%
2015 9.46 1177th 1240 5.1%
2016 10.30 1165th 1233 5.5%
2017 12.66 1083rd 1205 10.1%
2018 7.54 1183rd 1209 2.2%
2019 10.03 1144th 1234 7.3%
2021 7.43 1194th 1214 1.6%
2022 6.41 1229th 1244 1.2%
2023 9.80 1192nd 1242 4.0%
2024 8.97 1208th 1248 3.2%
See the entire list of Georgia Elementary School Rankings!

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

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





Data source: Georgia Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Dawson Elementary School

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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 350 350
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 355 355
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 330 330
1993 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 370 370
1994 12 368 0 13 0 n/a n/a 0 393
1995 11 405 4 3 1 n/a n/a 0 424
1996 11 405 4 3 1 n/a n/a 0 424
1997 17 379 5 4 1 n/a n/a 0 406
1998 11 404 4 8 1 n/a n/a 0 428
1999 15 400 5 9 0 n/a n/a 0 429
2000 11 419 4 5 0 n/a n/a 0 439
2001 12 315 3 6 0 n/a n/a 0 336
2002 20 358 1 8 0 n/a n/a 0 387
2003 20 358 1 8 0 n/a n/a 0 387
2004 16 366 2 8 0 n/a n/a 0 392
2005 6 366 2 5 0 n/a n/a 15 394
2006 6 307 0 7 0 n/a n/a 13 333
2007 3 274 0 5 0 n/a n/a 17 299
2008 2 278 0 5 0 n/a n/a 18 303
2009 7 284 0 1 0 n/a n/a 20 312
2010 5 285 1 0 0 0 22 0 313
2011 7 304 0 4 0 0 17 0 332
2012 11 321 0 7 0 1 15 0 355
2013 8 316 0 12 1 1 13 0 351
2014 10 294 1 15 0 1 6 0 327
2015 7 256 1 10 0 1 8 0 283
2016 9 267 0 9 0 0 3 0 288
2017 8 243 0 13 0 0 5 0 269
2018 7 243 0 9 0 0 9 0 268
2019 3 306 0 11 0 1 15 0 336
2020 2 318 0 6 0 0 19 0 345
2021 3 275 0 11 0 0 21 0 310
2022 5 253 0 11 1 0 28 0 298
2023 13 259 0 13 0 0 24 0 309

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 Dawson Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 350 20.0 17.5 40.9
1991 355 20.0 17.7 38
1992 330 20.0 16.5 45.8
1993 370 20.0 18.5 49.7
1994 393 21.0 18.7 51.9
1995 424 20.0 21.2 55.4
1996 424 20.0 21.2 55.4
1997 406 22.5 18.0 73.9
1998 428 25.0 17.1 82
1999 429 25.7 16.7 72
2000 439 23.4 18.8 70.4
2001 336 20.8 16.2 63.1
2002 387 24.8 15.6 69.5
2003 387 24.8 15.6 69.5
2004 392 24.0 16.3 76.8
2005 394 27.3 14.4 72.3
2006 333 22.0 15.1 83.4
2007 299 22.9 13.1 87.6
2008 303 22.2 13.6 89.5
2009 312 21.6 14.4 84.9
2010 313 20.0 15.6 83.1
2011 332 21.5 15.4 80.7
2012 355 22.7 15.6 85.6
2013 351 24.6 14.2 88
2014 327 21.2 15.4 95.4
2015 283 19.0 14.8 100
2016 288 17.0 16.9 99
2017 269 17.0 15.8 100
2018 268 16.5 16.2 94.4
2019 336 20.0 16.8 94.6
2020 345 22.5 15.3 91.6
2021 310 20.5 15.1 96.8
2022 298 21.7 13.7 n/a
2023 309 18.6 16.6 96.4

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 Dawson Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 350 20.0 17.5 40.9
1991 355 20.0 17.7 38
1992 330 20.0 16.5 45.8
1993 370 20.0 18.5 49.7
1994 393 21.0 18.7 51.9
1995 424 20.0 21.2 55.4
1996 424 20.0 21.2 55.4
1997 406 22.5 18.0 73.9
1998 428 25.0 17.1 82
1999 429 25.7 16.7 72
2000 439 23.4 18.8 70.4
2001 336 20.8 16.2 63.1
2002 387 24.8 15.6 69.5
2003 387 24.8 15.6 69.5
2004 392 24.0 16.3 76.8
2005 394 27.3 14.4 72.3
2006 333 22.0 15.1 83.4
2007 299 22.9 13.1 87.6
2008 303 22.2 13.6 89.5
2009 312 21.6 14.4 84.9
2010 313 20.0 15.6 83.1
2011 332 21.5 15.4 80.7
2012 355 22.7 15.6 85.6
2013 351 24.6 14.2 88
2014 327 21.2 15.4 95.4
2015 283 19.0 14.8 100
2016 288 17.0 16.9 99
2017 269 17.0 15.8 100
2018 268 16.5 16.2 94.4
2019 336 20.0 16.8 94.6
2020 345 22.5 15.3 91.6
2021 310 20.5 15.1 96.8
2022 298 21.7 13.7 n/a
2023 309 18.6 16.6 96.4

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 Dawson Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017 $857 (8.4%) $9,346 (91.6%) $10,203
2018 $769 (7.4%) $9,580 (92.6%) $10,349
2019 $961 (9.2%) $9,456 (90.8%) $10,417

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Dawson 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 1144th of 1234 Elementary schoolsRanks 1192nd of 1242 Elementary schools
 3.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Dawson Elementary School)19.617.8
 1.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Muscogee County)3426.6
 7.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4238.6
 3.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Dawson Elementary School)26.124.4
 1.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Muscogee County)37.628.7
 8.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Georgia)5245.6
 6.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Dawson Elementary School)1412.2
 1.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Muscogee County)3027.3
 2.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4236.1
 5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Dawson Elementary School)167.3
 8.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Muscogee County)32.229.5
 2.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)4945.7
 3.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Dawson Elementary School)18.98.7
 10.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Muscogee County)38.731.4
 7.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)4541.6
 3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Dawson Elementary School)13.20
 13.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Muscogee County)29.221.2
 8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)4137.4
 3.6%
5th Grade Science (Dawson Elementary School)11.36.5
 4.8%
   5th Grade Science (Muscogee County)35.129.2
 5.9%
   5th Grade Science (Georgia)4340
 3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students336309
 8%
African American306259
 15.4%
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic1113
 18.2%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White313
 333.3%
Two or More Races1524
 60%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients94.6%96.4%
 1.8%


Schools Near Dawson Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Dawson Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 309 students attended Dawson Elementary School.

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

Middle : East Columbus Magnet Academy

Dawson Elementary School ranks in the bottom 3.2% of Georgia elementary schools.

Students at Dawson Elementary School are 84% African American, 8% Two or more races, 4% White, 4% Hispanic.


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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.





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