The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Social studies. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Stilson Elementary School
Stilson Elementary is a public school in the rural eastern corner of Bulloch County, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small town of Brooklet, about nine miles east of Statesboro. The school sits in a place undergoing significant change: Brooklet's population is growing faster than it has in decades, driven by the Hyundai Metaplant and Port of Savannah expansion, and the school district has approved a major reconfiguration that will transform Stilson's role in the system.
The school serves a student body that is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic makeup of rural eastern Bulloch County. Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school covering six grade levels plus prekindergarten. The mix of rural, agricultural heritage and suburban newcomers shapes both the student population and the community's near-term trajectory.
Academic performance at Stilson shows mixed results across tested subjects. In mathematics, the school sits in the top quartile among Bulloch County districts when measured across all tested grades and subjects. Math proficiency is somewhat stronger than in English language arts: third graders achieved proficiency in math at a rate slightly above the midpoint, while fourth graders fell below that mark and fifth graders landed between. In ELA, proficiency declined as students moved up the grade levels, with third grade performing at roughly the national midpoint but fourth and fifth grades dipping below it. Science proficiency at fifth grade was comparable to ELA. These results fall short of what most parents would hope for, particularly in ELA by fourth and fifth grade. State assessment data from an earlier cohort (2013-14) showed much stronger proficiency in social studies, though that assessment is no longer administered. State testing data was not available for students in prekindergarten through second grade, as Georgia does not assess those grades.
The district is in the midst of implementing science of reading-based literacy instruction across all elementary schools to comply with new state law. This is a substantial shift in how reading is taught and represents an effort to improve foundational literacy skills. Teachers have received professional development in these methods, and the district has adopted evidence-based instructional materials. Parents considering Stilson should ask the school specifically how this initiative is being rolled out in early grades and what support structures exist for students who need additional help.
Brooklet itself is a reviving small town with a walkable downtown core along East Lee and Parker Avenue where locally owned shops have nearly all reopened, creating active street life. Schools sit near the town center rather than on isolated campuses. However, the broader area has no public transit, and daily life centers on the downtown, churches, and schools. The town park, with its gazebo and fountain, serves as a civic gathering place. Beyond the compact downtown, Brooklet is rural in character. Most working residents commute to jobs in Statesboro or to regional employers tied to the Hyundai facility and the port.
Growth is reshaping the district's infrastructure and school assignments. In July 2024 the city council approved the annexation of substantial acreage rezoned for single-family residential development, the largest such project in the city's history. The district approved ESPLOST VI in November 2025 with strong voter support, authorizing a capital campaign that includes a new Southeast Bulloch High School and a feeder-school reconfiguration. The plan involves converting the current high school to a middle school and transforming the current middle school into schools for K-3 grades, with Brooklet and other elementary schools serving as feeders. This reorganization is designed to relieve overcrowding in the southern county but will alter how students progress through the system. Parents of young students should understand that school boundaries and progression pathways are likely to shift within the next few years as these projects come online.
The district also raised its property tax millage rate in August 2025, translating to a meaningful annual cost increase for homeowners. Families considering a move to Brooklet should factor this into their housing calculations.
Stilson Elementary fits families who want a rural or small-town setting and are willing to engage with a school during a period of curriculum and organizational change. The school's math performance is a relative strength, but ELA results suggest a need for parents to stay closely connected to their child's reading progress and to understand what science of reading instruction looks like in the classroom. The combination of a growing town, a district in transition, and academic results that fall below state averages means this is a place where parent engagement and clear expectations matter significantly.
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