The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Math. The lowest is 36% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Cartersville Primary School
Cartersville Primary School is a newly built early-grades school serving pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade in a rapidly expanding industrial and residential area north of Atlanta. The school opened in August 2023 on a spacious campus in the Carter Grove Road development, the result of a voter-approved bond referendum and land donation from the surrounding residential development. It replaced a much older facility and expanded the grade band from K-2 to pre-K through 3 as part of a district-wide reconfiguration.
The enrollment is substantial for a primary school, with a broad age range across five grades. Just under three-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body reflects Cartersville's changing demographics: roughly half the enrollment is white, with growing Hispanic and Black populations representing sizable shares, and smaller Asian and multiracial communities. The data does not report the proportion of students receiving special education services or learning English as an additional language.
On state assessments, 3rd graders posted proficiency rates that fall below the state pattern. In math, roughly four in ten students met the proficiency standard, and in English language arts, roughly one in three. The school has only one year of reported test data, so trend information is not yet available. Among the two districts in Bartow County that report proficiency data, this school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint, though the absolute performance numbers remain modest. A parent may want to look into what the school is doing to support students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards and what supports exist for younger students in pre-K through 2nd grade, where state testing does not occur.
Cartersville is a mixed-use small city with a historic, walkable downtown anchored by shops, restaurants, museums, and performing arts venues, paired with a major manufacturing footprint and rapid residential growth. The city sits about 44 miles north of Atlanta on Interstate 75. Housing values in the area are moderate relative to national benchmarks, and rental rates are stable. The city's economy centers on large manufacturers including Anheuser-Busch, Shaw Industries, Toyo Tire, and Komatsu, with recent expansions announced by Anheuser-Busch and new solar-panel production from Rivulet Energy. New residential subdivisions are under development, including Carter Grove near the school itself. This growth context means the school will likely serve an increasingly diverse student population and may face continued pressure to build capacity.
The Cartersville Board of Education made a notable structural decision in February 2025 by voting to opt out of Georgia's statewide homestead exemption on school property taxes. This means families in the district will not benefit from the statewide inflation-cap protection on school tax assessments. The board projected significant revenue loss had the exemption been in place, and warned that opting out could lead to larger and more frequent millage increases over time. This is a lasting decision that affects what homeowners pay on school taxes in this district relative to other parts of Georgia.
See more original research from School Decision →