6-Year-Old Paulding County Student Dies During Field Trip

POLK COUNTY, Ga. — A field trip meant to be a fun day for local elementary students ended in tragedy last week when a 6-year-old girl from Paulding County was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at Carlton Farms in Rockmart.

The child, a student at McGarity Elementary School, had been attending a school field trip with classmates on Wednesday, October 8, when she was reported missing. After a brief search, chaperones and staff found her in a pool on the property. Emergency responders performed life-saving measures before transporting her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Authorities have not released the child’s name, citing her age and the ongoing investigation.

The Polk County Police Department is leading the investigation and has confirmed that detectives are working to determine how the child gained access to the pool area. Police have described the incident as “deeply tragic” and are conducting interviews with teachers, school staff, and witnesses who were present.

Carlton Farms, a popular agritourism destination for school field trips, features a variety of activities for children, including animal exhibits, hayrides, and corn mazes. The farm also has a pool on-site that is not part of the student attractions.

In a statement, the Paulding County School District expressed heartbreak over the loss and said counseling and grief support would be made available to students and staff at McGarity Elementary.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with this child’s family, classmates, and teachers,” the district said. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate this unimaginable tragedy.”

Parents across the community have voiced concern on social media, questioning how the young student was able to wander from supervision. Police said it is too early to determine whether negligence played a role.

As of Tuesday, no charges have been filed, and investigators are awaiting results from the medical examiner’s office.

Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Polk County Police Department.