Best Georgia public schools
Eight rankings of Georgia's public schools from the latest NCES + state-assessment data. Unlike most school rankings, this list leads with BeatsExpectations: a demographics-adjusted score that asks how a school performs relative to what its student population would predict, not just in absolute terms.
Georgia schools outperforming demographics
Top schools by BeatsExpectations score. Demographically-adjusted; a +20 here means the school posts 20 more proficiency points than its FRL profile predicts.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elite Scholars Academy School | Jonesboro | +69.0pp |
| 2 | Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet | Albany | +51.5pp |
| 3 | Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers | Decatur | +49.8pp |
| 4 | Robert Shaw Theme School | Scottdale | +47.4pp |
| 5 | Dekalb Early College Academy | Stone Mountain | +46.8pp |
| 6 | Pierce County High School | Blackshear | +46.8pp |
| 7 | Centralhatchee Elementary School | Franklin | +41.4pp |
| 8 | Gwinnett School of Mathematics- Science and Technology | Lawrenceville | +41.3pp |
| 9 | Savannah Classical Academy Charter School | Savannah | +41.3pp |
| 10 | Martha Ellen Stilwell School for the Performing Arts | Jonesboro | +38.7pp |
| 11 | St. George Elementary School | Folkston | +38.1pp |
| 12 | Bainbridge High School | Bainbridge | +37.5pp |
| 13 | Savannah Classical Academy Charter High School | Savannah | +37.3pp |
| 14 | Bacon County High School | Alma | +37.3pp |
| 15 | Habersham Ninth Grade Academy | Mount Airy | +37.0pp |
Georgia Title I schools beating the odds
High-poverty schools (60%+ FRL) ranking in the top quartile of their state's proficiency.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers | Decatur | 95.5% |
| 2 | Elite Scholars Academy School | Jonesboro | 94.7% |
| 3 | Pierce County High School | Blackshear | 83.9% |
| 4 | Dekalb Early College Academy | Stone Mountain | 80.6% |
| 5 | Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet | Albany | 79.2% |
| 6 | St. George Elementary School | Folkston | 73.9% |
| 7 | Robert Shaw Theme School | Scottdale | 73.0% |
| 8 | Rabun County High School | Tiger | 72.2% |
| 9 | Habersham Ninth Grade Academy | Mount Airy | 70.7% |
| 10 | Savannah Classical Academy Charter School | Savannah | 70.5% |
| 11 | Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School | Savannah | 70.2% |
| 12 | Hahira Elementary School | Hahira | 69.9% |
| 13 | Midway Elementary School | Blackshear | 69.6% |
| 14 | Hillcrest Elementary School | Lagrange | 69.1% |
| 15 | Patterson Elementary School | Patterson | 68.3% |
Georgia schools by raw proficiency
The traditional ranking: highest combined math + reading proficiency on the state assessment.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gwinnett School of Mathematics- Science and Technology | Lawrenceville | 99.6% |
| 2 | Kittredge Magnet School | Atlanta | 99.1% |
| 3 | Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers | Decatur | 95.5% |
| 4 | Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy | Columbus | 94.7% |
| 5 | Elite Scholars Academy School | Jonesboro | 94.7% |
| 6 | Marietta Center for Advanced Academics | Marietta | 92.1% |
| 7 | Columbus High School | Columbus | 90.5% |
| 8 | Alliance Academy for Innovation | Cumming | 89.5% |
| 9 | Daves Creek Elementary School | Cumming | 87.5% |
| 10 | Creek View Elementary School | Alpharetta | 87.1% |
| 11 | Davidson Fine Arts Magnet | Augusta | 87.0% |
| 12 | Riverwatch Middle School | Suwanee | 86.1% |
| 13 | North Gwinnett Middle School | Sugar Hill | 86.0% |
| 14 | Innovation Academy | Alpharetta | 85.9% |
| 15 | Mary Lin Elementary School | Atlanta | 85.6% |
Georgia schools with the lowest student-teacher ratios
Schools with 200+ students reporting the fewest students per teacher. Excludes virtual.| # | School | City | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gwinnett Intervention Education Center (GIVE) West | Norcross | 6.0:1 |
| 2 | Heritage Academy Elementary School | Atlanta | 7.3:1 |
| 3 | Early County Middle School | Blakely | 7.7:1 |
| 4 | B.E.S.T Academy | Atlanta | 7.8:1 |
| 5 | Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy | Atlanta | 7.9:1 |
| 6 | Cleveland Road Elementary School | Bogart | 8.0:1 |
| 7 | Gwinnett InterVention Education (GIVE) Center East | Lawrenceville | 8.1:1 |
| 8 | Stringfellow Elementary School | Moultrie | 8.1:1 |
| 9 | Belmont Hills Elementary School | Smyrna | 8.1:1 |
| 10 | Tapestry Public Charter School | Doraville | 8.1:1 |
| 11 | Michael R. Hollis Innovation Academy | Atlanta | 8.2:1 |
| 12 | Cascade Elementary School | Atlanta | 8.2:1 |
| 13 | Finch Elementary | Atlanta | 8.2:1 |
| 14 | Argyle Elementary School | Smyrna | 8.3:1 |
| 15 | Howard B. Stroud Elementary School | Athens | 8.3:1 |
Fastest-growing Georgia public schools, 2017-2024
Schools open in both years with 200+ enrollment in 2017, ranked by % change.| # | School | City | Enrollment Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gwinnett Online Campus | Lawrenceville | +349% |
| 2 | R. M. Moore Elementary School | Waleska | +166% |
| 3 | Rockbridge Elementary School | Stone Mountain | +161% |
| 4 | Southwest Georgia S.T.E.M. Charter Academy | Shellman | +157% |
| 5 | Carnesville Elementary School | Carnesville | +136% |
| 6 | Groves High School | Garden City | +124% |
| 7 | Bryan County Elementary School | Pembroke | +119% |
| 8 | John Lewis Invictus Academy | Atlanta | +108% |
| 9 | Perry Career Academy - Eula Wilburn Ponds Perry Center for | Jonesboro | +102% |
| 10 | Dubois Integrity Academy | Riverdale | +93% |
| 11 | Appling County Elementary School | Baxley | +92% |
| 12 | Scintilla Charter Academy | Valdosta | +90% |
| 13 | Lanier County Elementary School | Lakeland | +90% |
| 14 | Black's Mill Elementary School | Dawsonville | +89% |
| 15 | Jackson County High School | Hoschton | +87% |
Most racially diverse Georgia public schools
Schools ranked by how balanced their student body is. The largest single racial group's share of enrollment, lowest first.| # | School | City | Max group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gwin Oaks Elementary School | Lawrenceville | 24.8% Black (267) |
| 2 | Jones Middle School | Buford | 26.3% White (463) |
| 3 | Fort Daniel Elementary School | Dacula | 27.1% White (175) |
| 4 | Five Forks Middle School | Lawrenceville | 27.9% Black (345) |
| 5 | Freeman's Mill Elementary School | Lawrenceville | 27.9% Black (282) |
| 6 | Ivy Creek Elementary School | Buford | 28.2% White (425) |
| 7 | Chattahoochee Elementary School | Duluth | 28.5% Black (323) |
| 8 | Seckinger High School | Buford | 28.5% Black (661) |
| 9 | Sugar Hill Elementary School | Sugar Hill | 28.6% White (331) |
| 10 | Head Elementary School | Lilburn | 29.3% White (211) |
| 11 | Parkview High School | Lilburn | 29.4% Hispanic (947) |
| 12 | Burnette Elementary School | Suwanee | 29.5% Black (196) |
| 13 | Fulton Academy of Science and Technology | Roswell | 29.5% Asian (163) |
| 14 | Mountain Park Elementary School | Lilburn | 29.6% Hispanic (193) |
| 15 | Peachtree Ridge High School | Suwanee | 29.6% Black (935) |
Largest Georgia public schools
Brick-and-mortar schools ranked by total enrollment. Virtual schools excluded.| # | School | City | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookwood High School | Snellville | 3,803 |
| 2 | Grayson High School | Loganville | 3,627 |
| 3 | Lambert High School | Suwanee | 3,249 |
| 4 | Parkview High School | Lilburn | 3,216 |
| 5 | Peachtree Ridge High School | Suwanee | 3,155 |
| 6 | Lowndes High School | Valdosta | 3,152 |
| 7 | Campbell High School | Smyrna | 3,085 |
| 8 | Archer High School | Lawrenceville | 3,058 |
| 9 | North Gwinnett High School | Suwanee | 3,033 |
| 10 | North Paulding High School | Dallas | 3,015 |
| 11 | Cherokee High School | Canton | 3,012 |
| 12 | East Coweta High School | Sharpsburg | 3,001 |
| 13 | Berkmar High School | Lilburn | 2,975 |
| 14 | Camden County High School | Kingsland | 2,912 |
| 15 | Osborne High School | Marietta | 2,790 |
Georgia schools underperforming demographics
Bottom 10% within state by BeatsExpectations. Not a verdict, a starting question. A school may be in leadership transition or recovering from a demographic shift.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Price Academy | Macon | -55.7pp |
| 2 | Oakland Meadow School | Lawrenceville | -47.4pp |
| 3 | Hurricane Transition Academy | Fitzgerald | -45.3pp |
| 4 | Lanier College and Career Academy | Gainesville | -38.7pp |
| 5 | EXCEL Academy | McDonough | -38.1pp |
| 6 | Westside High School | Macon | -37.6pp |
| 7 | Classic City High School | Athens | -34.6pp |
| 8 | West Hall High School | Oakwood | -34.2pp |
| 9 | Eagle's Landing High School | McDonough | -33.6pp |
| 10 | Rutland High School | Macon | -33.3pp |
| 11 | Dawson County High School | Dawsonville | -33.1pp |
| 12 | Southwest High School | Macon | -33.0pp |
| 13 | Northeast High School | Macon | -32.2pp |
| 14 | Skyview High School | College Park | -31.1pp |
| 15 | Luella High School | Locust Grove | -30.7pp |
About these rankings
These tables use the most recent NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) for enrollment, demographics, and staffing, and state-native assessment data (typically 2023-24 or 2024-25) for proficiency. BeatsExpectations is computed via per-state ordinary-least-squares regression of composite proficiency on free-and-reduced-lunch share. Full methodology.
License: CC-BY 4.0. Reproduce these rankings anywhere with attribution to allk12.com. Press contact: [email protected].