Timber Ridge Elementary School vs A.L. Burruss Elementary School

A.L. Burruss Elementary School holds the stronger overall rating between these two Marietta elementary schools, scoring 9.5/10 against Timber Ridge Elementary School's 8.7/10 — a 0.8-point gap. That difference in overall score translates into a dramatic difference in state rank: A.L. Burruss Elementary School sits at #10 of 2268 Georgia elementary schools, while Timber Ridge Elementary School ranks #110 of 2268. Both are genuinely strong performers, but A.L. Burruss sits in Georgia's top 0.5 percent.

The academic and growth scores tell a split story. Timber Ridge Elementary School edges out A.L. Burruss on raw academic proficiency, 9.6/10 versus 8.7/10 — a meaningful 0.9-point advantage suggesting higher current test-score achievement among its student population. A.L. Burruss counters decisively on growth: its 9.9/10 growth score outpaces Timber Ridge Elementary School's 8.6/10 by 1.3 points, meaning students at A.L. Burruss are gaining ground faster year over year regardless of where they start. For families weighing ceiling versus trajectory, that tradeoff is real.

The two schools serve meaningfully different student populations. Timber Ridge Elementary School enrolls 510 students with a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio and just 6% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch — a profile associated with low economic need. A.L. Burruss Elementary School is smaller at 388 students, carries a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio, and serves 55% of students on free or reduced lunch. That 2.9-point ratio advantage at A.L. Burruss means roughly three fewer students per teacher on average — a concrete classroom-size difference that likely contributes to the school's exceptional growth numbers.

Both schools serve grades PK through 5 and sit 10.5 miles apart within Marietta. The grade bands are identical, so the choice comes down to school-level factors rather than program structure. Families in lower-need circumstances who prioritize current academic benchmarks will find Timber Ridge Elementary School's 9.6 academic score compelling. Families who weight teacher attention and demonstrated student progress — particularly for children who need to accelerate — will find A.L. Burruss Elementary School's top-10 state ranking and 9.9 growth score a harder result to ignore.