Hull-sanford Elementary School, Hull GA

Original Research by School Decision on Hull-sanford Elementary School

Hull-Sanford Elementary School is a small public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Hull, a rural community in southwestern Madison County, Georgia. The school sits at the edge of a region experiencing steady growth due to its proximity to Athens and the University of Georgia, though Hull itself remains a quiet, low-density place centered on a historic crossroads.

The school enrolls a modest population with a diverse student body. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting economic conditions typical of rural Georgia. The enrollment is relatively balanced across grade levels, with roughly similar cohorts from kindergarten through fifth grade. Students identify across multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds, with white, Hispanic, and Black students each representing meaningful shares of the school community, along with a smaller population of multiracial students and a very small number of Asian students. No data on English learner enrollment or special education enrollment was reported.

Academic performance across tested grades shows proficiency rates that sit below state midpoints across subjects. In English language arts, proficiency ranges in the low-to-mid range across grades three, four, and five. Mathematics proficiency is slightly stronger, hovering in the high-forties to low-fifties range at the third-grade level and declining as students progress to grades four and five. Science proficiency in fifth grade is in the mid-forties. These results are available for only the most recent school year, so trends cannot be assessed from the data provided. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school about how these scores compare to the district's other elementary schools and what specific interventions are underway to build proficiency, particularly in upper elementary grades where math and reading demands increase.

The district implemented i-Ready as its elementary assessment and personalized instruction platform starting in 2025-26, a systemwide change that affects how students are screened and how instruction is tailored. The district is also managing budget pressures; the school board has held the millage rate steady for two consecutive years despite rising property values, which translates into higher school tax bills for homeowners in the area. The district is operating with a deficit budget as it funds new school construction, meaning further financial or program adjustments may follow.

Hull itself is extremely small and rural. The town center sits at the intersection of State Route 72 and Glenn Carrie Road, marked by a historic water well and modest retail along nearby U.S. Highway 29, including grocery and quick-service chains. The area has no walkable downtown or public transit; daily life is car-dependent. Most civic facilities, libraries, and secondary schools are in Danielsville, the county seat several miles away. Despite the rural character, development pressure is visible along the highway corridors due to proximity to Athens; new subdivisions marketed to Athens commuters are rising in the area, and multiple acreage tracts are on the market. Housing values have appreciated modestly in recent years and remain well below national medians, though the cost-of-living picture includes the rising school property taxes tied to the board's millage decision. For families seeking a small, rural elementary school in a growing but still quiet county setting, Hull-Sanford offers that environment; for families prioritizing strong standardized test performance, further exploration with the school and district about academic strategies would be warranted.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 353%

School 53% · District 54% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 13 pts above state median

Grade 449%

School 49% · District 55% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median

Grade 541%

School 41% · District 51% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 336%

School 36% · District 40% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median

Grade 437%

School 37% · District 39% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median

Grade 541%

School 41% · District 42% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median

Science

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 53% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median

Social studies

Grades 3-889%

School 89% · district not reported

▲ 6 pts above state median

This schoolMadison 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-income26%Higher-income67%41 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income24%Higher-income45%21 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income42%Higher-income64%23 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income31%Higher-income58%28 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income63%Higher-income80%17 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income56%Higher-income65%9 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income51%Higher-income68%17 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income57%Higher-income70%14 pp gap