Timber Ridge Elementary School, Mcdonough GA

Original Research by School Decision on Timber Ridge Elementary School

Timber Ridge Elementary School is an established public elementary school serving grades pre-K through fifth in McDonough, Georgia, in Henry County. It enrolls a student body of about that size for its grade span, with a student body that reflects McDonough's growing suburban diversity. Just over half the enrollment is Black, close to one-quarter is white, and smaller shares include Hispanic and Asian students. About half the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income population.

Test results show the school is working below the county midpoint academically. In English language arts, proficiency across the school sits below the midpoint of Henry County districts, with third graders showing the weakest performance and fifth graders stronger results. Math proficiency is near the midpoint overall, with a sharp climb from third to fifth grade. In science, tested only at fifth grade, the school hovers near the county midpoint. A social studies assessment result from an earlier assessment year showed much stronger performance, though that test is no longer in use. The pattern across recent data is one of mixed results: math and science in the middle range, language arts below it, and a significant gap in reading and math proficiency between third and fifth graders that narrows as students advance. A parent may want to look into the school's approach to early literacy and numeracy support, since third-grade proficiency in both subjects sits well below where fourth and fifth graders land.

McDonough itself is a fast-growing suburban exurb about a half-hour south of Atlanta. The city blends a historic downtown square, anchored by the Henry County Courthouse and lined with local shops and restaurants, with extensive new residential development spreading outward. New subdivisions, townhomes, and active-adult communities are under construction across the area, and major mixed-use development is bringing regional retail. Housing values sit modestly above the state benchmark, and the rental market is tight; affordability metrics suggest families are spending about a quarter of income on rent and three-quarters of a year's household income on a home purchase, which is manageable but not loose. McDonough's economy is anchored by logistics, warehousing, and distribution tied to its Interstate 75 location, plus public employment as the county seat. Employment is steady.

Henry County Schools, the district serving Timber Ridge, approved a major capital referendum (E-SPLOST VI) in 2021, with funds flowing through 2028 for new school construction, expansions, and technology upgrades. The district is opening a new STEM High School in fall 2027 with specialized pathways in artificial intelligence, engineering, biotechnology, and aerospace. At the same time, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, the district implemented a K-12 cell phone and smartwatch ban during the school day, a stricter policy than Georgia state law requires. The district also added a new community service graduation requirement for students entering high school in fall 2024 and beyond. These shifts reflect a district in motion, making substantial investments while tightening student conduct expectations.

Timber Ridge is a neighborhood school serving a diverse, mixed-income community in a region experiencing sustained growth and family formation. Its academic trajectory across elementary grades is upward, though third-grade readiness in language arts and math are areas worth discussing with the school. The community offers solid suburban stability and access to both historic downtown amenities and growing retail and services, with reasonable housing costs for the Atlanta metro area.

See more original research from School Decision →

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 454%

School 54% · District 37% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 564%

School 64% · District 28% · ▲ 36 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 39 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 335%

School 35% · District 29% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 440%

School 40% · District 30% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 559%

School 59% · District 34% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Science

Grade 552%

School 52% · District 33% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Social studies

Grades 3-888%

School 88% · district not reported

▲ 4 pts above state median · even with 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-income29%Higher-income33%4 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income39%Higher-income53%14 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income41%Higher-income60%19 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income36%Higher-income50%13 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income31%Higher-income44%13 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income59%Higher-income77%18 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income20%Higher-income43%23 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income36%Higher-income53%16 pp gap