The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Social studies. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dawson Elementary School
Dawson Elementary School serves students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Columbus, Georgia, as part of the Muscogee County school system. The school enrolls a modest student population that is predominantly Black, with a small representation of Hispanic, multiracial, and white students and a very small number of Asian students. All students at Dawson qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a low-income community.
On the most recent Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade assessments, Dawson's proficiency results in grades three through five show substantial challenges. In mathematics, a very small portion of tested students achieved proficiency. English language arts performance was similarly low, with only a small share of students meeting the proficiency threshold. Science results were also well below proficiency. These results reflect significant academic struggles across the core subjects. The school does not report data for special education enrollment or English learner enrollment, so the availability of these support services cannot be assessed from the data provided.
Columbus itself is a mid-sized city along the Chattahoochee River with a mixed character: Uptown and downtown anchor civic and cultural life through parks, the RiverWalk, and performance venues, while neighborhoods spread across the city and county with a mix of historic residential areas, newer infill development, and commercial corridors. Fort Moore, Aflac, and regional healthcare and banking institutions shape the local economy. Housing in the Columbus area is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks, with rental affordability somewhat better positioned than homeownership for households of modest means.
Muscogee County Public Schools, the district serving Dawson, has undertaken significant facility investment through a voter-approved sales tax referendum that will fund school consolidations and safety retrofits over the next several years. The district has also raised property taxes above state rollback thresholds in multiple recent fiscal years as part of its budget strategy, a pattern that affects families' long-term cost of living in the area. Parents considering Dawson should connect directly with school leadership about the specific instructional supports, remediation pathways, and staffing in place to address the low proficiency outcomes, and whether the school's approach aligns with their child's academic needs and learning style.
See more original research from School Decision →