Polk County School District
School District · Cedartown, Georgia
Avg Rating
5.5
out of 10
Schools
11
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,543
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Avg Rating
5.5
out of 10
Schools
11
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,543
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Evaluating Polk County?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Polk County as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Westside Elementary School
Cedartown · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Youngs Grove Elementary School
Cedartown · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Northside Elementary
Cedartown · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Georgia rank
#136 of 179
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below Georgia avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,543
$585 vs Georgia median
District size
7,893 students
Much larger than Georgia median
The short answer
Polk County ranks #136 of 179 Georgia districts by overall school rating. Polk County's schools with real test data average 5.5/10 across 11 schools. Its top-rated schools are Westside Elementary School (6.6/10), Youngs Grove Elementary School (6.2/10), and Northside Elementary (6.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.6/10 despite 80% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Polk County schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Polk County schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Polk County
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (11 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westside Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Youngs Grove Elementary School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Northside Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Rockmart High School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Eastside Elementary School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Cherokee Elementary School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Cedartown High School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Harpst Academy | 5.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Cedartown Middle School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Van Wert Elementary School | 4.7 / 10 |
See all 11 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Polk County
Polk County is a Cedartown, Georgia school district serving 11 schools. The district educates 7,893 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.9:1. The district invests $13,543 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.5/10, Polk County demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Westside Elementary School, which has a composite score of 6.6/10.
In standardized testing, Polk County students show an average math proficiency of 42.6% and ELA proficiency of 47.9%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools , 2 middle schools , and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Polk County, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Polk County with test data.
Schools in Polk County
11 schools Elementary Schools 6
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 2
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Georgia
- City
- Cedartown
- Total Enrollment
- 7,893
- Teachers (FTE)
- 568
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Polk County?
Polk County has 11 schools in total — 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Polk County?
The average composite rating for Polk County is 5.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Polk County?
Polk County spends $13,543 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Polk County?
The average student-teacher ratio in Polk County is 13.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Polk County?
Westside Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Polk County with a composite score of 6.6/10.
What are the test scores in Polk County?
Across schools in Polk County with test data, the average math proficiency is 42.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 47.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Polk County compare to other districts in Georgia?
Polk County has an average school rating of 5.5/10 across 11 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Georgia by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 42.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 47.9%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in GA
Compare Polk County with neighboring districts in the state.
- Gwinnett County (140)
- Dekalb County (131)
- Cobb County (110)
- Fulton County (106)
- Atlanta Public Schools (87)
- Clayton County (67)
- Savannah-chatham County (58)
- Muscogee County (53)
- Henry County (50)
- Richmond County (50)
- Forsyth County (42)
- Cherokee County (37)
- Hall County (37)
- Houston County (37)
- Bibb County (35)
- Douglas County (35)
- Paulding County (33)
- Columbia County (30)
- Coweta County (29)
- Department of Juvenile Justice (28)
- Carroll County (24)
- Fayette County (24)
- Dougherty County (22)
- Newton County (22)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Georgia Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.