Walnut Grove Elementary School

Q: Is Walnut Grove Elementary School a good school?

Walnut Grove Elementary School ranks 401 st of 1248 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Walnut Grove Elementary School is a public elementary school in Covington, Georgia, serving 727 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Walton County School District, which is ranked 40th out of 203 districts in the state.

Walnut Grove Elementary has shown mixed academic performance compared to the county and state averages. While the school's 5th-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate was higher than the averages, its proficiency rates in other subjects and grade levels were generally lower. The school's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, ranging from 321st out of 1,234 Georgia elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 538th out of 1,244 in 2021-2022, and it has consistently maintained a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating average performance. The school serves a relatively high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 38.59% to 42.09% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch in recent years.

When compared to nearby schools, Loganville Elementary School and Youth Elementary School consistently outperform Walnut Grove in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency. Additionally, Newton County Theme School at Ficquett, located in a neighboring district, also outperforms Walnut Grove across multiple subject areas and grade levels. Despite the school's average academic performance, its spending per student and student-teacher ratio are in line with or slightly higher than the nearby schools, suggesting that additional resources may not be the primary factor influencing the school's outcomes.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

460 Highway 81 S
Covington, GA 30014

(770) 784-0023

District: Walton County

SchoolDigger Rank:
401^st of 1,248 Georgia Elementary Schools

Students who attend Walnut Grove Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Youth Middle School
High:	Walnut Grove High School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.9

Number of students: 727

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.5%

Hispanic:

10.0%

African American:

8.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 42.1%

See top rated Georgia elementary schools

Compare Walnut Grove Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Walnut Grove Elementary School ranks better than 67.9% of elementary schools in Georgia. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 64.83. (See more...)

Student Body

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Teachers

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Finance

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Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Walton County:

SchoolDigger ranks Walton County 40^th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Walnut Grove Elementary School.

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Rank History for Walnut Grove Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	GA State Percentile
2006	79.64	160^th	1101	85.5%
2007	82.57	135^th	1125	88.0%
2008	69.80	333^rd	1134	70.6%
2009	67.00	388^th	1133	65.8%
2010	58.39	558^th	1183	52.8%
2011	71.22	372^nd	1212	69.3%
2012	73.02	322^nd	1201	73.2%
2013	81.41	165^th	1225	86.5%
2014	66.86	458^th	1231	62.8%
2015	68.95	324^th	1240	73.9%
2016	64.41	385^th	1233	68.8%
2017	53.59	502^nd	1205	58.3%
2018	55.91	478^th	1209	60.5%
2019	70.95	321^st	1234	74.0%
2021	60.69	436^th	1214	64.1%
2022	52.41	538^th	1244	56.8%
2023	63.22	416^th	1242	66.5%
2024	64.83	401^st	1248	67.9%

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: 2.8)

25%

Reviews:

by a parent
Friday, December 8, 2017

Great school. Admin will help solve a problem if you go and speak with them. Yes, there are a lot of fundraisers, but no one is forced to participate. Love that many other parents are able to give their time to volunteer. My son is happy and learning, that is what matters most to me. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, October 3, 2014

Administration ruins this school; some teachers are great, and others not so. We moved here for this school and have been sadly disappointed. If you are one of the "good ol boys"...meaning...native to Walnut Grove, Loganville, Covington...then you are treated like gold. If you are an outsider...you ALWAYS will be! Fake people is the name on this place. Smile and nice to your face with southern charm all the while saying horrible things about people as soon as they turn the other way. The bullying is out of control and it's lead by the ADMINISTRATORS to the PTO and trickles down to the students. Not good role models for children; especially in this day and age. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, September 23, 2013

The best thing about this school is that the student's actually learn from a teacher. This is our 4th school and we found where we would like to stay. The other schools in Covington are too high tech and kids are learning from iPads and computers instead. My son was making C's and D's before we came to walnut grove where he has been A B honor roll ever since attending! The teachers themselves are a tiny "snooty" but at least my child is learning! Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, January 27, 2013

Candy is given as a reward on a daily basis, soda is also given, though less frequently. Every school function is treated as a fundraiser, for example: The students own "Fall Festival" (the only Halloween party they got to have)cost $8 per child and $5 for each additional child. The "Father/Daughter" dance is coming up and costs $15 plus $7 for each additional daughter. Pretty ridiculous when you consider 50% of the students recieve free or reduced lunches, how can most families afford that?. Outside time is rare and on most days the kids have "Inside Recess" which is basically sitting in the classroom. This school definitely does not teach the students to have a healthy lifestyle. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Walnut Grove Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1995	641	6	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	651
1996	641	6	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	651
1997	658	6	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	668
1998	705	8	5	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	722
1999	714	7	3	10	2	n/a	n/a	0	736
2000	743	12	1	11	2	n/a	n/a	0	769
2001	749	10	7	12	3	n/a	n/a	0	781
2002	449	15	7	5	2	n/a	n/a	0	478
2003	449	15	7	5	2	n/a	n/a	0	478
2004	456	14	10	6	3	n/a	n/a	0	489
2005	469	13	6	5	4	n/a	n/a	11	508
2006	477	15	6	7	3	n/a	n/a	17	525
2007	466	21	3	7	4	n/a	n/a	12	513
2008	510	17	5	5	2	n/a	n/a	18	557
2009	494	17	3	7	1	n/a	n/a	21	543
2010	490	29	5	12	1	1	3	0	541
2011	473	29	2	12	1	1	10	0	528
2012	477	26	2	17	1	1	11	0	535
2013	472	24	1	20	1	1	12	0	531
2014	497	23	2	25	1	1	13	0	562
2015	534	22	2	36	1	0	10	0	605
2016	567	22	2	34	1	0	19	0	645
2017	583	21	2	43	1	0	17	0	667
2018	598	24	5	49	0	0	21	0	697
2019	584	17	4	55	0	0	21	0	681
2020	570	25	5	54	0	0	25	0	679
2021	553	24	4	56	0	0	29	0	666
2022	549	42	9	60	0	0	32	0	692
2023	556	65	1	73	0	1	31	0	727

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 Walnut Grove Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1995	651	39.5	16.5	23.2
1996	651	39.5	16.5	23.2
1997	668	45.5	14.7	29.2
1998	722	50.4	14.3	37
1999	736	52.0	14.2	27.7
2000	769	43.0	17.9	27.6
2001	781	41.8	18.7	25.1
2002	478	31.0	15.4	32.8
2003	478	31.0	15.4	32.8
2004	489	31.4	15.6	37.6
2005	508	37.0	13.7	43.9
2006	525	38.3	13.7	45.1
2007	513	39.5	13.0	36.1
2008	557	40.0	13.9	40.3
2009	543	38.9	14.0	44.3
2010	541	37.5	14.4	48.2
2011	528	35.5	14.8	50.6
2012	535	34.3	15.5	53.8
2013	531	35.3	15.0	50.3
2014	562	34.8	16.1	50.7
2015	605	38.0	15.9	47.8
2016	645	39.0	16.5	48.8
2017	667	44.3	15.0	43.5
2018	697	43.5	16.0	45.8
2019	681	44.6	15.2	39.2
2020	679	43.4	15.6	42.4
2021	666	41.5	16.0	38.6
2022	692	43.0	16.0	n/a
2023	727	45.7	15.9	42.1

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 Walnut Grove Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1995	651	39.5	16.5	23.2
1996	651	39.5	16.5	23.2
1997	668	45.5	14.7	29.2
1998	722	50.4	14.3	37
1999	736	52.0	14.2	27.7
2000	769	43.0	17.9	27.6
2001	781	41.8	18.7	25.1
2002	478	31.0	15.4	32.8
2003	478	31.0	15.4	32.8
2004	489	31.4	15.6	37.6
2005	508	37.0	13.7	43.9
2006	525	38.3	13.7	45.1
2007	513	39.5	13.0	36.1
2008	557	40.0	13.9	40.3
2009	543	38.9	14.0	44.3
2010	541	37.5	14.4	48.2
2011	528	35.5	14.8	50.6
2012	535	34.3	15.5	53.8
2013	531	35.3	15.0	50.3
2014	562	34.8	16.1	50.7
2015	605	38.0	15.9	47.8
2016	645	39.0	16.5	48.8
2017	667	44.3	15.0	43.5
2018	697	43.5	16.0	45.8
2019	681	44.6	15.2	39.2
2020	679	43.4	15.6	42.4
2021	666	41.5	16.0	38.6
2022	692	43.0	16.0	n/a
2023	727	45.7	15.9	42.1

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 Walnut Grove Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$743 (7.3%)	$9,425 (92.7%)	$10,168
2018	$887 (8.9%)	$9,080 (91.1%)	$9,967
2019	$891 (8.5%)	$9,606 (91.5%)	$10,497

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Walnut Grove 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 321^st of 1234 Elementary schools	Ranks 416^th of 1242 Elementary schools	7.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Walnut Grove Elementary School)	57.7	42.3	15.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Walton County)	49.4	43.7	5.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	42	38.6	3.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Walnut Grove Elementary School)	61.5	58.7	2.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Walton County)	58.3	50.9	7.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	52	45.6	6.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Walnut Grove Elementary School)	44.5	46.2	1.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Walton County)	50.7	43.9	6.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	42	36.1	5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Walnut Grove Elementary School)	45.4	56.4	11%
4th Grade Mathematics (Walton County)	61.1	57.8	3.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	49	45.7	3.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Walnut Grove Elementary School)	54.1	36	18.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Walton County)	50.6	46.7	3.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Georgia)	45	41.6	3.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Walnut Grove Elementary School)	59.2	37.8	21.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Walton County)	48	44.9	3.1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Georgia)	41	37.4	3.6%
5th Grade Science (Walnut Grove Elementary School)	59.2	37.8	21.4%
5th Grade Science (Walton County)	43.7	47.7	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	681	727	6.8%
African American	17	65	282.4%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	4	1	75%
Hispanic	55	73	32.7%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	584	556	4.8%
Two or More Races	21	31	47.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	39.2%	42.1%	2.9%

Schools Near Walnut Grove Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2024)	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2024)						Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2024)						Milestones Assessment Science (2024)		Milestones Assessment Social Studies (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 Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 5th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Walnut Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	460 Highway 81 S	Covington	30014	Newton County	Walton County	No	No	No	No	(770) 784-0023	727	46	15.9	42.1%	556 (76.5%)	65 (8.9%)	73 (10.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	31 (4.3%)	64.8	401^st of 1248 public elementary schools	67.9%		63.2	416^th of 1242 public elementary schools	66.5%	15		39.4	42.3	52.1				47.2	72.1	44.4				45.3			$10,497	$891	$9,606
Youth Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4009 Center Hill Church Rd	Loganville	30052	Walton County	Walton County	No	No	No	No	(770) 554-0172	784	49	15.8	29.3%	600 (76.5%)	60 (7.7%)	80 (10.2%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.0%)	90.7	125^th of 1248 public elementary schools	90.0%		93.3	93^rd of 1242 public elementary schools	92.5%	32		50.5	62.4	76.4				65.4	72.5	74.5				74.1			$9,795	$410	$9,385
Sharon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 White Rd	Loganville	30052	Walton County	Walton County	No	No	No	No	(678) 684-2850	733	52	14.0	37.9%	438 (59.8%)	116 (15.8%)	128 (17.5%)	15 (2.0%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.5%)	72.8	313^th of 1248 public elementary schools	74.9%		74.1	288^th of 1242 public elementary schools	76.8%	25		61.3	38.7	55.8				65.8	52.4	53.5				47.3			$9,328	$384	$8,945
Flint Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 Airport Road	Oxford	30054	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 787-1330	852	63	13.5	85.0%	250 (29.3%)	459 (53.9%)	78 (9.2%)	13 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (6.1%)	14.7	1102^nd of 1248 public elementary schools	11.7%		15.2	1089^th of 1242 public elementary schools	12.3%	13		14.8	20.3	22.0				15.7	20.9	16.1				22.9			$11,269	$867	$10,401
Atha Road Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	821 H D Atha Rd	Monroe	30655	Walton County	Walton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 266-5995	840	54	15.4	48.7%	512 (61.0%)	187 (22.3%)	74 (8.8%)	12 (1.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (6.2%)	56.2	489^th of 1248 public elementary schools	60.8%		63.9	409^th of 1242 public elementary schools	67.1%	80		39.8	37.5	53.0				34.7	53.9	47.8				37.4			$9,370	$784	$8,587
Hightower Trail Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2510 Highway 138 NE	Conyers	30013	Rockdale County	Rockdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 388-0751	533	44	12.1	80.7%	71 (13.3%)	326 (61.2%)	105 (19.7%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (4.5%)	20.9	997^th of 1248 public elementary schools	20.1%		23.1	955^th of 1242 public elementary schools	23.1%	42		28.1	21.4	27.9				26.4	27.1	15.1				22.1			$10,689	$751	$9,939
Bay Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Homer Moon Rd	Loganville	30052	Walton County	Walton County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 466-2271	715	47	15.1	63.1%	150 (21.0%)	333 (46.6%)	154 (21.5%)	28 (3.9%)	5 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	43 (6.0%)	60.9	447^th of 1248 public elementary schools	64.2%		56.7	494^th of 1242 public elementary schools	60.2%	47		39.0	42.7	63.0				44.8	45.0	42.6				44.4			$8,957	$771	$8,186
House Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3100 Zingara Road	Conyers	30012	Rockdale County	Rockdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 483-9504	599	54	11.1	82.5%	69 (11.5%)	96 (16.0%)	419 (69.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.2%)	27	893^rd of 1248 public elementary schools	28.4%		25.5	906^th of 1242 public elementary schools	27.1%	13		31.4	17.0	36.1				32.4	26.1	19.8				31.3			$11,050	$588	$10,462
Loganville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4889 Bay Creek Church Road	Loganville	30052	Walton County	Walton County	No	No	No	No	(678) 684-2840	1,033	61	16.9	38.4%	624 (60.4%)	212 (20.5%)	114 (11.0%)	19 (1.8%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	60 (5.8%)	85.9	174^th of 1248 public elementary schools	86.1%		90.4	129^th of 1242 public elementary schools	89.6%	45		47.0	59.6	75.8				48.2	75.2	78.2				70.9			$8,451	$182	$8,268
Newton County Theme School at Ficquett	Public	PK, KG-8	2207 Williams St NE	Covington	30014	Newton County	Newton County	No	No	No	No	(770) 786-2636	977	53	18.3	29.1%	422 (43.2%)	419 (42.9%)	63 (6.4%)	14 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	57 (5.8%)	83.6	192^nd of 1248 public elementary schools	84.6%		75.6	274^th of 1242 public elementary schools	77.9%	82	100.0	60.7	65.2	68.9	61.9	71.3	73.5	60.7	64.3	51.5	43.2	37.6	86.7	55.3	43.5	72.4	$8,307	$320	$7,987

Frequently Asked Questions about Walnut Grove Elementary School

How many students attend Walnut Grove Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 727 students attended Walnut Grove Elementary School.

What district is Walnut Grove Elementary School in?

Walton County

What schools do graduates of Walnut Grove Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Walnut Grove Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Youth Middle School
High : Walnut Grove High School

What is the racial makeup of Walnut Grove Elementary School?

Students at Walnut Grove Elementary School are 76% White, 10% Hispanic, 9% African American, 4% Two or more races.

Is Walnut Grove Elementary School a good school?

Walnut Grove Elementary School ranks 401^st of 1248 Georgia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Walnut Grove Elementary 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.