The top reported proficiency rate is 97% in Social studies. The lowest is 38% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Center Elementary School
Center Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Waycross, a small Southeast Georgia city rooted in railroad history and positioned near the Okefenokee Swamp. The school sits on Dorothy Street and enrolls a small student body that is majority Black, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The neighborhood and student composition reflect the economic realities of this part of rural Georgia.
On state testing, Center Elementary's results show areas that merit attention. In English language arts across tested grades, proficiency rates fall in the lower range: third grade is below most benchmarks, while fourth and fifth grades show modest improvement. Mathematics proficiency follows a similar pattern, with particularly low results in third grade, a marked gain in fourth grade, and a drop again by fifth grade. Fifth-grade science proficiency is below half. These numbers suggest that students are entering middle school with uneven foundational skills. A parent evaluating the school would benefit from asking directly whether the school has identified specific areas for reading and math support, and what interventions are underway to close gaps, especially in the earliest tested grades.
The school operates within Ware County Schools, a district navigating significant change. A voter-approved sales tax (E-SPLOST) is funding a new middle school expected to open by 2026, accomplished without raising property tax millage rates. The district separately approved a property tax increase in 2024, which affects what families pay on a home. Beginning with this school year, the district rolled out a bell-to-bell electronic device restriction across all grades, a day-to-day policy change that eliminates personal phones, earbuds, and watches during school time.
Waycross itself is at a growth inflection point. A major industrial facility (ADMARES) is expected to open in late 2025, bringing jobs and potential population growth to the area. Housing is tight, with new apartment complexes and workforce housing in development, and the city has launched a comprehensive housing study. Home values in the school's zip code sit well below state and national medians, making property relatively affordable for families able to purchase. The community anchors downtown—a walkable, historic district with the restored rail depot, a city auditorium, and the public library—though schools themselves are located on separate campuses outside the immediate downtown core.
Center Elementary is a straightforward public school serving a neighborhood where most families are economically stretched. The testing data suggests students arrive with varied preparation and leave with proficiency rates that sit below state averages. The school's fit depends on family circumstances: it is the neighborhood school, so location and convenience matter. A parent whose child needs stronger early reading or math support should probe what the school offers beyond core instruction, and whether there are tutoring, intervention, or small-group options available. The broader context—district investment in new facilities, policy stability, and community economic development—suggests the area is being taken seriously by local leadership, though the immediate academic picture at this school calls for direct conversation with staff about where students stand and what pathways exist to close gaps before students move to middle school.
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