The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Atlanta for 2026 are Mary Lin Elementary School (9.6/10), Heards Ferry Elementary School (9.6/10), and Jackson Elementary School (9.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 104 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Atlanta's elementary school landscape spans 78 ranked schools, with composite scores ranging from well below average to Mary Lin Elementary School's leading 9.6 out of 10. That top-to-bottom spread gives parents real choices — and real differences to weigh. Burgess-Peterson Elementary and Parkside Elementary round out the upper tier, both scoring above 9.0 alongside Bolton Academy and Benteen Elementary. The metro average sits at 6.9 out of 10, but 47 schools — roughly 60% of the ranked pool — clear the 7.0 mark, meaning strong options are distributed across the city rather than concentrated in a single pocket. Scores, student-to-teacher ratios, and other key indicators are all sortable in the table below. Filter by what matters most to your family to quickly identify schools worth a closer look.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.6
- 29.6
- 39.5
- 49.5
- 59.3
- 69.2
- 79.2
- 89.2
- 99.2
- 109.1
All 104 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 104
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Mary Lin Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 509student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 2Heards Ferry Elementary SchoolFulton Countystudents 686student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 3Jackson Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 493student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 4Springdale Park Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 427student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5Morningside Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 750student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 6Morris Brandon Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 895student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 7Charles R. Drew Charter SchoolcharterAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 959student-teacher ratio 10.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 8Oak Grove Elementary SchoolDekalb Countystudents 388student-teacher ratio 12.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 9Globe Academy Charter School IcharterDekalb Countystudents 1,036student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 10Burgess-Peterson Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 568student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 11Spalding Drive ElementaryFulton Countystudents 352student-teacher ratio 11.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 12Westside Atlanta Charter SchoolcharterAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 347student-teacher ratio 11.6:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 13Ashford Park Elementary SchoolDekalb Countystudents 725student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 14Atlanta International School - Druid Hills Campusstudents 60student-teacher ratio 2.2:1grades Pre-K–TK
- 15Atlanta Neighborhood Charter - ElementarycharterAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 394student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 16Bolton Academy ElementaryAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 557student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 17Sagamore Hills Elementary SchoolDekalb Countystudents 428student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 18Tuskegee Airman Global AcademyAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 466student-teacher ratio 11.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 19Cliff Valley Schoolstudents 367student-teacher ratio 6.1:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 20Kipp Strive Primary Charter SchoolcharterAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 521student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades Kindergarten–4th
- 21The Childrens Schoolstudents 312student-teacher ratio 6.2:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 22Sara Rawson Smith Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 875student-teacher ratio 12.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23Parkside Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 603student-teacher ratio 13.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 24E. Rivers Elementary SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 706student-teacher ratio 13.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 25Ethos Classical Charter SchoolcharterState Specialty Schools Ii- Ethos Classical Charter Schoolstudents 535student-teacher ratio 17.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Georgia education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Georgia. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Mary Lin Elementary School
Atlanta Public Schools
509 students · 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in Georgia
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 9.9
- 2
Heards Ferry Elementary School
Fulton County
686 students · 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in Georgia
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 9.5
- 3
Jackson Elementary School
Atlanta Public Schools
493 students · 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in Georgia
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 10.0
- 4
Springdale Park Elementary School
Atlanta Public Schools
427 students · 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in Georgia
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 9.9
- 5
Morningside Elementary School
Atlanta Public Schools
750 students · 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in Georgia
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 9.9
- 6
Morris Brandon Elementary School
Atlanta Public Schools
895 students · 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in Georgia
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 9.9
- 7
Charles R. Drew Charter School
Atlanta Public Schools
959 students · 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in Georgia · charter
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 10.0
- 8
Oak Grove Elementary School
Dekalb County
388 students · 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in Georgia
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 9.8
- 9
Globe Academy Charter School I
Dekalb County
1,036 students · 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 3% in Georgia · charter
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 9.5
- 10
Burgess-Peterson Elementary School
Atlanta Public Schools
568 students · 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 3% in Georgia
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 9.9
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Atlanta, Georgia?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Mary Lin Elementary School is the top-rated elementary school in Atlanta with a composite score of 9.6/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Atlanta, Georgia?
Atlanta has 119 elementary schools, including 17 charter schools. Of these, 105 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Atlanta?
Among 105 Atlanta elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.6/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Georgia).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Georgia, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Georgia, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Atlanta elementary school rankings?
Atlanta has 17 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Atlanta2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Atlanta2026 rankings and ratings
- All 216 schools in AtlantaElementary, middle and high
- Georgia schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings