Cloverleaf Elementary, Cartersville GA

Original Research by School Decision on Cloverleaf Elementary

Cloverleaf Elementary is a regular public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Cartersville, a mixed-use small city anchored by a historic downtown core and surrounded by active manufacturing and ongoing residential growth. The school draws from a student body that is economically stretched, with a substantial majority qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment reflects Cartersville's demographic composition, with the student body split relatively evenly among white, Black, and Hispanic students, alongside smaller Asian and multiracial populations.

The school's recent state test results show a picture that warrants parent attention. In math, Cloverleaf sits above the midpoint among Bartow County districts when averaging across grades three through five. Reading proficiency trails notably behind math; third-grade reading proficiency is particularly low, though it rises to a more moderate level by fifth grade. Science proficiency, tested only in fifth grade, is markedly below both the school's math and reading results. A parent considering this school should look into what supports are in place for reading instruction in the lower grades and what the school is doing to strengthen science outcomes.

Cartersville itself is in an upswing. Multiple large residential projects are underway on its periphery, including a mixed-housing development on Walnut Grove Road and townhome communities marketed toward families moving into the area. Major industrial investment has also accelerated: Anheuser-Busch announced a significant manufacturing expansion in April 2026, and a new solar-panel factory opened in January 2026. The city pairs this growth with a downtown district that has genuine walkability and cultural life, anchored by an active farmers market, independent restaurants and shops, museums, and performing arts venues. Housing values in the 30121 zip code are below the state benchmark, and rents are moderate, making the area financially accessible for families priced out of closer-in suburbs.

A parent will want to know that the Bartow County School District announced in January 2025 its intent to opt out of Georgia's statewide homestead exemption that would cap annual property-tax assessment growth at the inflation rate. For homeowners who plan to stay, this means school property taxes will not receive the protection the state referendum offers, a real long-term cost consideration. The district has, however, substantially expanded senior homestead exemptions as of January 2023, lowering tax exposure for aging residents.

Cloverleaf's enrollment is small to moderate for its grade band, and the school is located on Highway 20 Spur, not in the downtown core itself. It sits within a district and town experiencing real demographic and economic momentum, with young families moving in and school construction keeping pace. For families drawn to Cartersville's affordability, manufacturing-anchored economic base, and small-city character, Cloverleaf offers a neighborhood elementary school. The test results suggest that families should ask the school directly about literacy support in grades three and four and inquire into science instruction, as both areas show room for improvement.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 348%

School 48% · District 45% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 459%

School 59% · District 49% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 561%

School 61% · District 48% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 326%

School 26% · District 31% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 445%

School 45% · District 38% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 551%

School 51% · District 43% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Science

Grade 531%

School 31% · District 39% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Social studies

Grades 3-877%

School 77% · district not reported

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

This schoolBartow County, 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-income40%Higher-income64%25 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income33%Higher-income39%6 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income43%Higher-income86%43 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income38%Higher-income66%28 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income59%Higher-income89%30 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income53%Higher-income67%14 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income47%Higher-income71%24 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income53%Higher-income77%24 pp gap