High Shoals Elementary School, Bishop GA

Original Research by School Decision on High Shoals Elementary School

High Shoals Elementary School is a small, regular public elementary school in rural Bishop, Georgia, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits in Oconee County, about a dozen miles southwest of Athens, in a community that blends agricultural heritage with rapid residential growth. Housing in the Bishop area has appreciated steadily, and new subdivisions continue to expand the county's bedroom-community character.

The student body reflects the demographic composition of the wider region. The majority of enrolled students are white, with smaller shares identifying as multiracial, Hispanic, Asian, and Black. A small portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting the school draws from families with moderate to higher household incomes relative to state averages. Special education enrollment and English learner enrollment data were not available.

Academic performance shows math proficiency above reading. Across tested grades, math proficiency hovered near or just above the low-to-mid mark, with fifth grade performing slightly stronger than third or fourth grade. English language arts proficiency ran lower, especially in third grade, and improved as students moved to upper elementary grades. Science was assessed only in fifth grade and showed proficiency roughly aligned with English language arts at that grade level. Historical data from a different assessment in social studies showed very high proficiency, though that assessment is no longer in use. Only one year of recent state assessment results was available, so trend patterns cannot be determined.

Reading performance warrants attention. A parent considering this school may want to look into what reading support and intervention programs are in place, particularly in the early grades where proficiency rates suggest room for stronger outcomes. The school's instructional approach to literacy would be worth discussing directly with administration.

Math instruction appears to be on firmer footing. The proficiency rates across grades suggest consistent execution, and the slight uptick in fifth grade indicates students may be building momentum before middle school.

Oconee County Schools recently passed a sales-tax referendum that will fund facility upgrades throughout the district, including HVAC improvements and new roofing at secondary schools, avoiding a property tax increase. The district is in the middle of a longer-term capital cycle begun in 2021 with the opening of a new middle school. The county also restructured its board governance in late 2024, moving from a voter-elected chair system to board-selected leadership. For families evaluating school fit, the recent passage of facility funding suggests stability and a commitment to the infrastructure that will house students as the region continues to grow.

Bishop itself is a small, quiet town of primarily residential character, anchored by a historic downtown and a notable antique shopping corridor. Most residents work outside town, commuting to Athens or beyond. The area is seeing steady population growth through new subdivisions, which means school enrollment may continue to expand. Families here choose the area for its rural setting, historic charm, and proximity to Athens without dense urban development, though they should expect to drive for most daily services and work.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 373%

School 73% · District 78% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▲ 33 pts above state median

Grade 473%

School 73% · District 80% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▲ 28 pts above state median

Grade 576%

School 76% · District 77% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 38 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 358%

School 58% · District 64% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 27 pts above state median

Grade 468%

School 68% · District 71% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 34 pts above state median

Grade 570%

School 70% · District 74% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 31 pts above state median

Science

Grade 570%

School 70% · District 73% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 30 pts above state median

Social studies

Grades 3-896%

School 96% · district not reported

▲ 13 pts above state median

This schoolOconee 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-income35%Higher-income72%38 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income61%Higher-income69%8 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income73%Higher-income82%9 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income51%Higher-income74%23 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income42%Higher-income91%49 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income61%Higher-income89%28 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income73%Higher-income83%10 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income55%Higher-income88%34 pp gap