Ben Hill Elementary School

Tucked into the small south Georgia city of Fitzgerald, Ben Hill Elementary stands out for its surprisingly strong science program, which ranks among the top in the state and gives students a real edge in STEM learning early on. Fitzgerald itself is a tight-knit community known for its unique history — it's one of the few towns in the country founded jointly by Union and Confederate veterans — and that same sense of community spirit tends to show up in its schools. Families who value small-town roots and want their kids in a school where science is taken seriously will find a lot to appreciate here.