The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Social studies. The lowest is 34% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Annette Winn Elementary School
Annette Winn Elementary serves early grades in Lithia Springs, a suburban unincorporated community west of Atlanta shaped by warehousing, distribution, light manufacturing, and more recently by data centers and film studio investment. The school sits on Veterans Memorial Highway in a largely car-oriented landscape where the historic downtown mineral-springs resort once stood. Families choose or are assigned to this school based on their neighborhood zoning.
The student body is economically disadvantaged. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is small to mid-sized for an elementary serving pre-K through fifth grade, with a relatively balanced distribution across grades. The racial and ethnic composition is roughly split between Black and Hispanic students, with small numbers of students from other backgrounds and multiracial families.
State testing results from the most recent year show weak proficiency in English language arts across grades three through five, with the lowest performance in third and fourth grades. Math proficiency is below midpoint overall but somewhat stronger at the fifth-grade level. Fifth-grade science proficiency is notably higher than either ELA or math, approaching the majority mark. Older social studies data from more than a decade ago showed strong results, but current comparable social studies testing is not available for elementary grades. Only one year of data is on file, so trends cannot be assessed. A parent may want to look into current school initiatives around literacy instruction in the lower elementary grades, where the gap appears most pronounced.
The school's overall proficiency index places it at the top of the measured comparison set relative to districts in Douglas County, which reflects strength in fifth-grade science and math relative to peers. However, this positioning masks the lower performance in ELA across all grade levels and the weakness in grades three and four, areas where state-tested proficiency is generally below where the county median sits.
Lithia Springs itself is experiencing mixed demographic signals. New master-planned housing like Tributary at New Manchester is attracting families with homes under construction, and major regional projects such as the Lionsgate Studios complex and a new Zoetis manufacturing facility in nearby Douglasville signal growth and employment. The district is investing in capital infrastructure; voters approved a continuation of the education sales tax, and a major replacement of Lithia Springs High School is now under construction in phases. At the same time, the broader Douglas County area has experienced modest population decline in recent years, and the county's ten-year pattern of successive millage rate reductions paired with rising home assessments means school property taxes are rising for many households despite the rate cuts.
Housing values in the zip code are moderate for the metro Atlanta region, with a typical home price in the low to mid-range and monthly rent also relatively accessible. The area is about a short drive from Interstate 20 and about an hour from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, making it part of Atlanta's suburban commute shed rather than a self-contained community. Sweetwater Creek State Park anchors recreation to the south.
This is a school serving a economically diverse, lower-to-moderate-income neighborhood where the majority of students are learning in a context of economic constraint. Reading proficiency at early grades is below state norms and merits close conversation with the school about curriculum, teacher support, and family literacy engagement. Families considering the school should ask about intervention programs, literacy coaching, and whether there are summer or after-school offerings. The neighborhood itself is stable, with ongoing housing investment and regional job growth, though population trends have been soft and housing costs are rising as assessments increase.
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