The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Social studies. The lowest is 39% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Carrollton Upper Elementary
Carrollton Upper Elementary serves fourth and fifth graders in a school that mirrors the composition of the Carrollton community itself. The enrollment is modest, and a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a working-family demographic with modest household incomes. The student body is diverse, with roughly equal representation across white, Black, and Hispanic students, and smaller shares of Asian and multiracial students. The school sits in Carrollton, a county seat about 45 to 50 miles west of Atlanta that functions as a regional center for health care and education, home to the University of West Georgia and anchored by Southwire Company and Tanner Health System as major employers.
Academic performance at Carrollton Upper Elementary presents a straightforward picture: proficiency rates are below the midpoint. In math, proficiency runs in the low-to-middle range across the school's grade bands, with fourth grade performing better than fifth. English language arts proficiency is lower still, below that of math. Science proficiency at fifth grade is similarly modest. The school's overall proficiency index places it at the top of its county peer set, though this reflects the county as a whole rather than the state benchmark. One data point stands apart: a social studies assessment from over a decade ago showed proficiency well above typical ranges, but that measure is no longer current in Georgia's state testing system and does not reflect the school's recent academic standing. A parent reviewing these results should understand that the elementary students here are not reaching proficiency at the rates the state expects, and this is an area the school would need to address through instruction and support.
Carrollton City Schools as a district has made deliberate choices about finances and facilities that shape the experience of families here. The board voted unanimously to opt out of Georgia's floating homestead exemption, meaning property tax bills for school purposes can continue to rise as home values increase rather than being capped by inflation. At the same time, the district has approved a full rollback of its millage rate for two consecutive years, holding school taxes flat. The district also placed the ESPLOST VII education sales tax on the ballot to fund capital projects and technology without raising property taxes. These moves signal a district trying to balance taxpayer relief with the need to fund operations, though the long-term financial picture depends on enrollment and state funding.
The town itself is growing, drawn increasingly into the Atlanta metro area. New residential subdivisions are under development across the city, from Legacy Place and The Overlook at Oak Mountain to the Carrollton GreenBelt-connected neighborhoods. A new 49-unit workforce-housing apartment community is under development to address housing affordability, as more than half of Carrollton renters are cost-burdened. Downtown Carrollton around Adamson Square is walkable and hosts galleries, restaurants, and the AMP amphitheater, but the city overall is car-dependent, with limited public transit and a Walk Score indicating most amenities and workplaces are spread out. The 18-mile Carrollton GreenBelt paved loop offers a major recreation spine through parks and neighborhoods.
Carrollton Upper Elementary is a regular public elementary school with a specific grade focus. The state does not test fourth and fifth graders on social studies, so the school's full academic footprint appears only in math, ELA, and fifth-grade science. No data on enrollment in special education or English learner services was available. The school operates as part of an independent city school system known for a centralized campus model, distinct from the county system. For families considering Carrollton, the school offers a working-family setting in a town with growing housing stock and regional employment anchors, though academic proficiency is a point parents would want to explore further with the school directly regarding classroom instruction, supports, and longer-term improvement plans.
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