Bibb County, GA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bibb County

Bibb County is a district of roughly mid-sized enrollment serving kindergarten through grade twelve across the county, centered in Macon. The student body is majority Black, with smaller shares of white, Hispanic, and Asian students. Race-ethnic breakdown and the density of Black enrollment mean this is a district shaped by the history and present reality of segregation and unequal resource distribution in Georgia public education. Enrollment is stable across grade bands, with slightly higher numbers in the ninth grade, suggesting typical high school attrition.

Academic performance across the district is weak in standardized testing. Math proficiency in elementary grades (third through fifth) sits in the low-to-mid twenties; it drops sharply in sixth and seventh grade to around fifteen percent, then recovers slightly in eighth to the low twenties. English language arts proficiency runs similarly low across grades three through eight, mostly in the low twenties, with a dip to under twenty percent in seventh grade. Science results are uneven: fifth-grade science proficiency reaches the low thirties, but eighth-grade science drops to around twelve percent. Eighth-grade social studies proficiency is the weakest result at under fourteen percent. These numbers reflect a district where the majority of students do not meet proficiency thresholds in state testing, and where performance deteriorates as students move into middle school.

The district has structured its recent work around its 2023-2028 strategic plan, "Built4Bibb: More Victory Planned," which emphasizes K-12 numeracy and literacy, structured literacy training for elementary teachers and coaches, and a multi-tiered system of supports with social-emotional learning as a framework. The district uses AMIRA Tutor, an AI reading assessment tool, alongside STAR benchmarks. This pedagogy shift represents an intentional investment in foundational literacy, though it is still early in the implementation window.

Bibb County has faced enrollment and funding pressures. Nine of its elementary schools fall below the state threshold for full teacher funding. In early 2025, the district explored consolidation and potential closures of Hartley, L.H. Williams, or Porter Elementary, but the board chose not to close any schools and instead commissioned a demographic study for districtwide rezoning. Preliminary attendance zone options were presented in April 2026, with any final rezoning to take effect in the 2026-2027 school year. This affects which school children are assigned to, so families choosing neighborhoods should be aware that assignments may shift.

On the funding side, the district faces structural budget constraints. In July 2025, the board approved an effective property tax increase by maintaining the millage rate despite rising property values, expected to generate additional revenue. This followed a similar millage adoption in September 2024. In February 2025, the board voted unanimously to opt out of Georgia House Bill 581 (the Save Our Homes Act), a statewide homestead exemption that would have capped property tax growth to the inflation rate for thirty years. Opting out lets the district retain control of its tax base for the next fifty years, preserving the ability to raise revenue beyond inflation. For property owners, this signals the district's intent to rely on property tax growth to meet budget needs.

In a positive turn, Bibb County voters approved an ESPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) renewal in November 2025. The penny-on-the-dollar sales tax is earmarked for capital projects: school safety improvements, technology upgrades, districtwide HVAC replacement, new buses, and renovations at multiple schools including Bernd, Sonny Carter, Alexander II, Southfield, L.H. Williams, Porter, Weaver Middle, Westside High, Central High, and Southwest High. A meaningful portion of ESPLOST revenue comes from non-residents, so it funds facility improvements without raising property taxes on homeowners. This capital investment will shape building quality and learning environments for years ahead.

The district operates thirty-six schools, including four magnet schools and specialty programs like Vineville Academy and Price Academy. State testing data does not include graduation rate, high school achievement, or Advanced Placement outcomes, so readers seeking that information should review individual high school profiles or contact the district directly.

Bibb County is a district in transition: addressing foundational literacy gaps through structured pedagogy, managing enrollment consolidation through rezoning rather than closures, securing capital funding through ESPLOST, and relying on property tax growth to sustain operations. Performance data shows work ahead; the strategic plan and capital investment signal the district's commitment to improvement, but the scope of the gap between current proficiency and state standards is substantial.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

21,324

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 8%

Black 77%

White 10%

Asian 1%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

35 schools are officially reported under this district.

Alexander II Magnet School

Bernd Elementary School

Williams Elementary School

Appling Middle School

Lane Elementary School

Springdale Elementary School

Ingram/Pye Elementary School

Heard Elementary School

Hartley Elementary School

Porter Elementary School

Carter Elementary School

Weaver Middle School

Union Elementary School

Westside High School

Central High School

Northeast High School

Southwest High School

Miller Magnet Middle School

Heritage Elementary School

Skyview Elementary School

Vineville Academy

Burdell Elementary School

Rutland High School

Rutland Middle School

Howard Middle School

Rosa Taylor Elementary School

Price Academy

Ballard Hudson Middle School

Howard High School

Bruce Elementary School

Martin Luther King Jr Elementary School

Southfield Elementary School

Veterans Elementary School

John Robert Lewis Elementary School

VIP Academy (Virtual)

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

27%

Grade 3

28%

Grade 4

23%

Grade 5

15%

Grade 6

14%

Grade 7

23%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

22%

Grade 3

22%

Grade 4

25%

Grade 5

24%

Grade 6

21%

Grade 7

23%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

32%

Grade 5

12%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

14%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$199,424

Year-over-year change+1.4%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$78K to $292K

vs. state typical0.60x

vs. national typical0.54x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
31216	Macon	$247K	+2.6%	23.0%
31052	Lizella	$262K	+3.4%	14.9%
31217	Macon	$98K	-1.6%	13.0%
31210	Macon	$292K	+1.9%	12.5%
31206	Macon	$78K	-0.4%	10.7%
31220	Macon	$250K	+2.2%	10.6%
31204	Macon	$121K	+1.7%	5.9%
31201	Macon	$107K	-2.3%	3.8%
31211	Macon	$173K	+1.4%	3.3%
31020		$96K	-1.1%	2.1%
31066	Musella	$207K	+0.4%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,254/mo

Year-over-year change+1.9%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$1,079 to $1,364/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
31216	Macon	$1,364	-1.7%	23.0%
31217	Macon	$1,168	+14.7%	13.0%
31210	Macon	$1,239	-0.3%	12.5%
31206	Macon	$1,150	+5.0%	10.7%
31220	Macon	$1,341	-6.0%	10.6%
31204	Macon	$1,194	+2.2%	5.9%
31201	Macon	$1,079	-0.3%	3.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,006/mo

Home price / national median income2.4x

Annual rent / national median income18.0%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$248/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$333,559 (-1.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.