Burdell Elementary School, Macon GA

Original Research by School Decision on Burdell Elementary School

Burdell Elementary is a small, PreK-through-5 school in central Macon serving a student body that is predominantly Black and economically disadvantaged, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school's test results in reading and math are low. Across the tested grades, reading proficiency sits well below half, and math proficiency is similarly in the lower range across grade 3 through 5, though it rises slightly by fifth grade. Science proficiency in fifth grade is modestly higher. These outcomes place the school above the midpoint in overall proficiency when compared to other districts in Bibb County, but the absolute performance levels signal that most students are not meeting grade-level standards.

The peer environment is almost entirely composed of students from Black families, with small numbers of Hispanic and multiracial students. Housing in the area is affordable relative to regional and national benchmarks; median home values are moderate, and rental costs are reasonable as a share of household income. This affordability, combined with the school's location in one of Macon's long-established residential neighborhoods, makes it accessible to families with modest means.

Burdell sits within Bibb County schools, a district that has taken several consequential steps in recent years. In late 2025, county voters approved a capital-improvements sales tax that will fund school facility upgrades districtwide, including HVAC replacement, technology, and renovations at multiple schools. The district has also opted out of a statewide homestead property tax exemption, preserving its authority over the tax base. However, the district has faced structural budget pressures and has raised the property tax millage rate in consecutive years. A consolidation study considered closing elementary schools but resulted instead in a rezoning plan that will take effect in the 2026-2027 school year; families in Burdell's attendance zone should check with the district about how rezoning might affect enrollment or assignment.

The district's current strategic plan emphasizes structured literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning. Elementary teachers and coaches are trained in the science of reading, and the district uses AMIRA, an AI literacy-assessment tool, alongside STAR benchmarks. This focus on foundational skills in language arts and math is district-wide and relevant to all elementary schools.

Burdell has no chronic absenteeism or graduation data reported, as those metrics do not apply to elementary schools. No special education or English learner population counts are available in the data. A parent or resident interested in this school should ask the school or district directly about current class sizes, teacher turnover, and any school-specific supports beyond the districtwide literacy and SEL initiatives.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 337%

School 37% · District 27% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 432%

School 32% · District 28% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 23% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 329%

School 29% · District 22% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 428%

School 28% · District 22% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 539%

School 39% · District 25% · ▲ 14 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 32% · ▲ 12 pts above district

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

Social studies

Grades 3-873%

School 73% · district not reported

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

This schoolBibb 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.