Polk County, GA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Polk County

Polk County Schools serves a district that spans several towns across a rural and small-city landscape in northwest Georgia, including Cedartown, Rockmart, Aragon, and surrounding communities. The district operates a mid-sized enrollment across grades pre-K through twelve, with a student body that is roughly evenly split between White and Hispanic students, with a meaningful Black student population. Housing values in the district's core communities are below the state benchmark, making the area relatively affordable for families, though rental availability appears limited in the data.

Academic performance across Polk County Schools shows consistent challenges. In math, proficiency rates across tested grades range from the low twenties to low forties, with sixth grade showing particularly low results and fifth grade, which includes a tested science component, posting somewhat stronger numbers. English language arts proficiency is similarly modest, with third and fourth grade around or below twenty-five percent proficiency and other grades ranging from roughly the high twenties to low thirties. Science proficiency in fifth and eighth grades sits in the mid-thirties to low forties. Eighth grade social studies proficiency is in the low thirties. These results indicate that roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of students are not meeting proficiency benchmarks across core subjects, a pattern that spans the elementary and middle grades where state testing occurs.

The district operates eleven schools: four elementary buildings, two middle schools, and two high schools, along with Harpst Academy, which serves as an alternative or specialized program. This distributed structure serves communities spread across several towns rather than a single urban or suburban center. The schools do not appear in the data with individual test results or separate profiles, so the district-level numbers represent the aggregate performance.

A significant recent development affects the district's financial trajectory. In November 2025, Polk County voters approved a senior homestead exemption from school district property taxes for residents ages 65 and older, with graduated exemption levels rising through age 77 and full exemption for the oldest group. The district publicly projected this would reduce annual tax revenue by a substantial amount, a lasting shift in the school funding base that will affect what younger families eventually bear in local property tax burden.

Data on graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner enrollment are not provided in the available district records, limiting a fuller picture of student support systems and economic need. The district's website and individual school pages were not accessible in the data supplied. A parent or resident might want to contact the district directly for information about specific school programs, counseling services, career pathways at the high schools, and how the district intends to manage the property tax revenue reduction in coming years.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

7,893

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 26%

Black 13%

White 54%

Asian 1%

Two+ 6%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

Westside Elementary School

Eastside Elementary School

Rockmart High School

Cedartown High School

Cherokee Elementary School

Northside Elementary

Cedartown Middle School

Rockmart Middle School

Harpst Academy

Van Wert Elementary School

Youngs Grove Elementary School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

33%

Grade 3

41%

Grade 4

28%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 6

30%

Grade 7

37%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

23%

Grade 3

27%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

28%

Grade 6

28%

Grade 7

29%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

39%

Grade 5

35%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

30%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$231,028

Year-over-year change+1.3%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$199K to $376K

vs. state typical0.69x

vs. national typical0.63x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
30125	Cedartown	$206K	+1.8%	57.1%
30153	Rockmart	$255K	-0.3%	28.1%
30104	Aragon	$229K	+2.9%	6.2%
30178	Taylorsville	$376K	+3.7%	4.3%
30113	Buchanan	$279K	+0.4%	2.5%
30173	Silver Creek	$247K	+0.8%	1.1%
30147	Rome	$199K	+0.7%	0.5%
30124	Cave Spring	$251K	+4.3%	0.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,700/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
30153	Rockmart	$1,700	—	28.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,166/mo

Home price / national median income2.8x

Annual rent / national median income24.4%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$534/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.