Dorothy Hains Elementary School, Augusta GA

Original Research by School Decision on Dorothy Hains Elementary School

Dorothy Hains Elementary School serves prekindergarten through fifth grade in Augusta, Georgia, as part of Richmond County's public school system. The school sits at a small size, housing a student population that is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of Hispanic, white, and multiracial students. All students enrolled qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the families the school serves.

On state assessments in language arts, math, and science administered in the most recent school year, Dorothy Hains reports proficiency rates well below typical benchmarks. In language arts across grades three through five, proficiency ranged in the low twenties. In math across the same grades, proficiency sat in the low teens. In science, tested only at grade five, the proficiency rate was similarly low. When these results are viewed alongside other schools in Richmond County, Dorothy Hains falls above the midpoint in overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, though the absolute performance levels across the school remain low. State assessment data from a decade ago showed somewhat higher proficiency in social studies, though more recent comparable data in that subject is not available.

The school faces a significant academic challenge. The proficiency rates indicate that a large majority of students are not meeting grade-level standards in core subjects. A parent should look into what instructional support and remediation the school offers, how the school diagnoses student needs, and what interventions or tutoring are in place. Understanding the school's approach to reading and math instruction, particularly in the early grades where foundational skills take shape, would be essential for families considering this school.

Beyond academics, Dorothy Hains sits in Augusta, a mid-sized city with a revitalized downtown along the Savannah River anchored by Broad Street, historic residential neighborhoods, and a major medical and education sector anchored by Augusta University. The area is seeing growth, particularly in downtown multifamily housing and surrounding residential development. Housing in the Augusta area remains relatively affordable compared to other parts of Georgia, though prices have been shifting. The job market includes healthcare, military and defense (Fort Eisenhower), manufacturing, education, and government employment.

Richmond County School System is undertaking major structural changes. A newly approved Long-Range Facilities Master Plan will redraw attendance zones and close or consolidate several schools beginning in the 2026-27 school year, with effects continuing through 2028-29. Families should review how these changes might affect their own child's school assignment and feeder patterns. The district has also approved voter-supported sales tax funding for significant capital projects, including new school buildings, without raising property taxes. The district chose to retain a traditional school calendar rather than move to a year-round calendar, preserving a standard summer break for families.

For families weighing Dorothy Hains, the core question centers on whether the school's academic performance and the academic support available can meet their child's needs. The low proficiency rates are a real concern that warrants direct conversation with the school about how they identify struggling readers and mathematicians, what interventions they deploy, and what progress they track for students over time.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 313%

School 13% · District 21% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 413%

School 13% · District 21% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 513%

School 13% · District 19% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 321%

School 21% · District 19% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 419%

School 19% · District 21% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 520%

School 20% · District 26% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 516%

School 16% · District 20% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · even with county median

Social studies

Grades 3-850%

School 50% · district not reported

▼ 33 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

This schoolRichmond 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.