Academy for Classical Education, Macon GA

Original Research by School Decision on Academy for Classical Education

Academy for Classical Education is a charter school in Macon serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school operates under a statewide lottery system open to all Georgia families, which means admission is not based on residency. Applications are accepted in January, and the lottery draw happens in February, making it important for families considering a move to the area to understand that a seat is not guaranteed even if you relocate to Macon.

The school's enrollment is substantial, distributed fairly evenly across its thirteen grade levels. The student body is predominantly white, with meaningful representation from Black, Asian, and Hispanic families. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting the population is economically mixed but skews toward families with moderate to higher household incomes. Data on the school's English learner and special education populations was not available.

Across state testing, Academy for Classical Education shows a pattern of stronger performance in upper grades and in science compared to English language arts. In mathematics, third and fifth graders show solid proficiency, while sixth and seventh graders dip measurably before rebounding strongly in eighth grade. The school's eighth-grade math proficiency is notably high. In English language arts, proficiency is lower in the early grades, with third graders showing the weakest results; performance improves and stabilizes from fifth grade onward. Science is a distinctive strength, with fifth and eighth graders both showing high proficiency. Eighth-grade social studies proficiency is moderate. Overall proficiency across tested grades and subjects places the school in the top quartile among school districts in Bibb County. A parent considering the school may want to discuss with the school why early ELA proficiency lags and what supports exist for students in third and fourth grades in both reading and language arts.

The school occupies a larger campus footprint than many urban schools. In 2023, it expanded its property holdings adjacent to its existing forty-acre grounds, established its own state-certified three-person police department, and built facilities for softball and baseball. These investments suggest a deliberate move toward self-contained campus operations and a long-term institutional footprint that parents should expect to see persist.

Financial sustainability is a relevant consideration for families. The school has defaulted on its bond covenant three times on a municipal bond obligation. Debt service payments are currently at a moderate level but are scheduled to rise substantially beginning in 2028, with full repayment due by the end of that decade. This debt trajectory could affect future school spending on programs, facilities maintenance, and staffing. Parents weighing enrollment may want to inquire directly with the school about how leadership plans to manage rising debt service costs alongside operational needs.

Macon itself is a mid-sized Central Georgia city with a revitalizing downtown core and historic residential neighborhoods. Downtown, centered along the Ocmulgee River, is highly walkable, with locally owned restaurants, shops, and music venues clustered around the Cherry Street corridor. The city hosts numerous annual festivals and cultural events. Outside the immediate downtown, the built environment is more car-oriented. Parks are a civic strength, including Amerson River Park along the river with trails and water access, and Carolyn Crayton Park, home to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Public transit operates Monday through Saturday through fixed bus routes. Major employers include healthcare systems, GEICO's largest regional office in the nation, higher education (Mercer University and Middle Georgia State University), and nearby Robins Air Force Base. The downtown area is undergoing significant residential and commercial development, with new market-rate lofts and mixed-use projects adding housing and retail downtown. Housing values in the school's zip code are below the Georgia state benchmark and well below national medians, and rental costs remain modest, making the area relatively affordable compared to many comparable markets.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

>=95%Cohort of 109 students · Class of 2021

The federal source publishes a banded range instead of an exact rate when the graduating cohort is small enough that an exact number could risk identifying individual students.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

467 schools plotted. 22 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 378%

School 78% · District 78%

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 50 pts above county median

Grade 469%

School 69% · District 69%

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 44 pts above county median

Grade 569%

School 69% · District 69%

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 46 pts above county median

Grade 659%

School 59% · District 59%

▲ 27 pts above state median

Grade 763%

School 63% · District 63%

▲ 29 pts above state median

Grade 884%

School 84% · District 84%

▲ 41 pts above state median · ▲ 65 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 347%

School 47% · District 47%

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Grade 459%

School 59% · District 59%

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

Grade 570%

School 70% · District 70%

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 45 pts above county median

Grade 670%

School 70% · District 70%

▲ 34 pts above state median

Grade 765%

School 65% · District 65%

▲ 29 pts above state median

Grade 881%

School 81% · District 81%

▲ 46 pts above state median · ▲ 60 pts above county median

Science

Grade 586%

School 86% · District 86%

▲ 46 pts above state median · ▲ 54 pts above county median

Grade 880%

School 80% · District 80%

▲ 54 pts above state median · ▲ 66 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 873%

School 73% · District 73%

▲ 42 pts above state median · ▲ 59 pts above county median

This schoolState Specialty Schools II- Academy For Classical Education, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income48%Higher-income70%22 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income50%Higher-income68%18 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income68%Higher-income86%18 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income57%Higher-income72%15 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income60%Higher-income73%13 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income76%Higher-income85%9 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income59%Higher-income76%17 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income84%Higher-income84%0 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income43%Higher-income66%23 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income64%Higher-income73%9 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income54%Higher-income57%4 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income45%Higher-income76%31 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income76%Higher-income82%6 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income61%Higher-income73%12 pp gap