Unity Grove Elementary School, Locust Grove GA

Original Research by School Decision on Unity Grove Elementary School

Unity Grove Elementary serves a diverse community in Locust Grove, a fast-growing suburban town roughly 35 miles southeast of Atlanta along I-75. The school enrolls a diverse student body across prekindergarten through fifth grade, with approximately three-fifths of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The racial and ethnic makeup reflects the broader Henry County area, with Black students making up a substantial share of enrollment, followed by white students, and smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students.

The school's state test results show persistent challenges in core academics. Math proficiency ranges from roughly one-third to just over one-half across the tested grades, with fourth grade performing notably better than third and fifth grades. Reading proficiency is lower, with third grade around one-quarter proficient and improving modestly in the upper grades. Fifth-grade science proficiency sits in the low-to-mid range. These results place the school well below state benchmarks in both literacy and numeracy.

Locust Grove itself is in an active growth phase. The town has roughly doubled in population over the past decade as new subdivisions, townhouse communities, and rental neighborhoods have expanded outward from the historic downtown. Multiple master-planned communities are under construction or recently completed, anchored by activity at the I-75 corridor and the Tanger Outlets. This growth brings both housing demand and infrastructure pressure; the city and county are pursuing major roadway expansions. For families relocating to the area, housing prices in the Locust Grove zip code fall slightly below state and national benchmarks, with both purchase and rental affordability reasonably accessible relative to regional income levels, though mortgage rates remain elevated.

The Henry County Schools district that serves Unity Grove has undertaken meaningful strategic shifts. A voter-approved sales tax approved in 2021 is funding three new schools, including a STEM-focused high school opening in 2027, as well as expansion of existing buildings and fleet upgrades through 2028. The district has also imposed a districtwide K-12 cell phone ban beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and introduced a new community service graduation requirement for students entering high school in 2024 and beyond. These represent lasting policy changes affecting daily school operations and student pathways.

For families choosing among elementary schools in the area, Unity Grove carries lower baseline academic proficiency than many neighboring districts. The school's test data reflects the economic and educational challenges its student population faces. A parent weighing this school may want to learn more directly from the school about its intervention strategies in literacy and math, how it addresses the needs of its economically disadvantaged population, and what additional supports and tutoring are available. The school's role within Henry County's broader STEM initiative and the district's infrastructure growth may also offer longer-term context as students progress through the system toward the new high school options coming online.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 334%

School 34% · District 33% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 450%

School 50% · District 37% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 532%

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

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

English language arts

Grade 323%

School 23% · District 29% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

Grade 431%

School 31% · District 30% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Grade 536%

School 36% · District 34% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Science

Grade 533%

School 33% · District 33% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Social studies

Grades 3-887%

School 87% · district not reported

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

This schoolHenry 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income21%Higher-income44%23 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income18%Higher-income35%17 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income29%Higher-income46%17 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income23%Higher-income42%19 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income32%Higher-income42%9 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income36%Higher-income61%25 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income18%Higher-income37%19 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income29%Higher-income47%18 pp gap