Appling County Elementary School vs Altamaha Elementary School
Appling County Elementary School has a higher overall rating of 9.3/10 compared to 8.8/10. Appling County Elementary School is significantly larger with 1,153 students, about 3.0× the size of Altamaha Elementary School (389). In math proficiency, Appling County Elementary School leads at 44.0%.
Appling County Elementary School
Baxley, GA
1,153 students
Altamaha Elementary School
Baxley, GA
389 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Appling County Elementary School | Altamaha Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.3 / 10 | 8.8 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.9 | 8.5 |
| Growth Score | 9.8 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 98.7% | 63.2% |
| Environment Score | 8.8 | 6.6 |
| State Rank | #16 of 2,268 | #77 of 2,268 |
| State Percentile | 99th | 97th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Appling County Elementary School | Altamaha Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 44.0% | 37.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 31.0% | 37.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Appling County Elementary School | Altamaha Elementary School |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 1,153 | 389 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 12.4:1 | 14.4:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 98.7% | 63.2% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Appling County | Appling County |
| City | Baxley | Baxley |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Baxley (31513) | Baxley (31513) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $42,977 | $42,977 |
| Median Home Value | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Median Rent | $714 | $714 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Poverty Rate | 23.6% | 23.6% |
| Avg Commute | 23 min | 23 min |
The data story: Appling County Elementary School vs Altamaha Elementary School
Appling County Elementary School and Altamaha Elementary School sit 8.4 miles apart in Baxley, Georgia, and their overall ratings are nearly identical — 9.2/10 versus 9.1/10, a 0.1-point gap. Both schools rank among the top 50 elementary schools in Georgia out of 2,268, with Appling County Elementary School at #39 and Altamaha Elementary School at #49. By that measure, parents choosing between these two schools are splitting hairs at the very top of the state distribution.
On academic scores, Appling County Elementary School holds a 0.4-point edge, 8.9/10 versus Altamaha Elementary School's 8.5/10. Growth scores tell a different story: Altamaha Elementary School scores 9.9/10 compared to Appling County Elementary School's 9.8/10, a near-tie that signals both schools are pushing students forward at exceptional rates regardless of where they start. The academic gap is real but narrow, and neither school shows a meaningful growth advantage over the other.
The demographic difference between the two schools is substantial. Appling County Elementary School enrolls 1,153 students — nearly three times Altamaha Elementary School's 389 — and serves a population that is 99% free- and reduced-lunch eligible, compared to 63% at Altamaha Elementary School. The student-teacher ratio at Appling County Elementary School is 12.4:1 versus 14.4:1 at Altamaha Elementary School, meaning Appling County students actually see slightly more teacher attention per capita despite the much larger overall enrollment. Both schools serve grades PK–05.
Both schools cover identical grade bands, PK through 5th grade, so no programmatic or level-based differentiation applies here. The gap between them is driven primarily by enrollment scale and the socioeconomic composition of their student bodies. Appling County Elementary School is one of the larger elementary schools in the region and serves an almost entirely high-need population at scale; Altamaha Elementary School operates as a smaller campus with a more mixed-income student body and a marginally higher student-teacher ratio.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Appling County Elementary School
Appling County Elementary School suits families who want a school with a proven record serving high-need students at scale — and who value a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (12.4:1). Its #39 state rank and 8.9/10 academic score show that serving a 99% free-and-reduced-lunch population has not compromised outcomes. Larger campus means more extracurricular depth and peer diversity within a high-poverty context.
Altamaha Elementary School
Altamaha Elementary School fits families who prefer a smaller campus of 389 students where a child is less likely to get lost in the crowd. Its 9.9/10 growth score — the highest of the two — signals teachers are maximally effective at accelerating individual progress. The more mixed-income enrollment (63% FRL) may also appeal to parents who value broader socioeconomic diversity in the classroom.