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Very Good

#869 of 2,268 schools in GA

Top 38% in state

Ruskin Elementary School

Elementary School · Ware County · Waycross, GA

A Ware County elementary school where students score 22 points above what's typical for similar communities.

3550 Valdosta Hwy, Waycross, GA 31503

  • Math 47% vs GA 42% (2024)
  • Reading 38% vs GA 42% (2024)
  • 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.0Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.72 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency46.6% (2024 GA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency38.1% (2024 GA)
Math vs. State Avg+4.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.7 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2024 GA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)20% (model expectation from 2024 GA)
vs. Expected+22.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
Resources & Environment9.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.7:1
District spending per student$15,387
Chronic Absenteeism9.1%

Students at Ruskin Elementary School score 42% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 GA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. GA average.

Math Proficiency47%(2024 GA)
School
State
42%(2024 GA)
ELA Proficiency38%(2024 GA)
School
State
42%(2024 GA)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 42% in 2024.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
87%
ELA
93%
2010
Math
83%
ELA
89%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
87%
ELA
95%
2013
Math
91%
ELA
97%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
37%
2017
Math
36%
ELA
34%
2018
Math
27%
ELA
27%
2019
Math
27%
ELA
27%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2024
Math
47%
ELA
38%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 30 test records from GA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Ruskin Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 3Car-Dependent
  • Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High6,076/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Waycross), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$55,042

Median home value

$108,100

Median rent

$823/mo

College educated

12.3%

Homeownership

67.7%

Poverty rate

17.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 31503; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 in Ware County

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Center Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.0K–5Not available470Compare →
Memorial Drive Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.8K–5Not available372Compare →
Wacona Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.4PK–5Not available963Compare →
Waresboro Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.4K–5Not available420Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Ware County

Schools in district
9
Rank in district
#4 of 9
District spending per student
$15,387NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
35.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

Ruskin Elementary School is listed in Ware County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Ruskin Elementary School

Ruskin Elementary School is a public elementary school in Waycross, GA, part of Ware County, serving approximately 374 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #869 of 2,268 schools in GA. State assessment records show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Ruskin Elementary School

What grades does Ruskin Elementary School serve?

Ruskin Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Ruskin Elementary School?

Ruskin Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 374 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ruskin Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Ruskin Elementary School is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ruskin Elementary School rank in GA?

Ruskin Elementary School ranks #869 of 2,268 schools in GA.

What is Ruskin Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Ruskin Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ruskin Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Ruskin Elementary School has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Ruskin Elementary School a charter school?

No, Ruskin Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Ruskin Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Ruskin Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ruskin Elementary School?

100.0% of students at Ruskin Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
374
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Ware County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
9.1%
Area population (ZIP 31503)
23,173
Area average commute
20.9 min
Area median age
37.2
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 GA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 GA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 GA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 GA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 31503; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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