Total enrollment
3,841
-351 (-8%) vs SY 2020-21
Burke County
Georgia · Public K-12
Burke County is a Georgia county whose public-school system spans 5 schools and approximately 3,841 students. Median household income runs about $53,014. That works out to 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
4-year change in Burke County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Burke County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Georgia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 27.2% | #108 of 129 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,841 | #75 of 137 | #1,587 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 5 | #85 of 137 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.5:1 | #10 of 137 | #693 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 95.4% | #42 of 137 | #194 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 53.6% | #91 of 137 | #922 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Residents
24,470
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
5
1 districts
Enrollment
3,841
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$53,014
Below Georgia avg
Free/reduced lunch
95.4%
Above Georgia avg
Elementary
3
1,880 students
Middle
1
828 students
High
1
1,133 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Burke County Public Schools
3,841 students · 1 district in Burke County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Burke County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
15.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
18.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.0%
civilian labor
Median age
38
24.5% under 18
Test scores in Burke County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Georgia state average: 40.1%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Burke County Middle School· 24.4%
- S G A Elementary School· 24.3%
- Blakeney Elementary· 18.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burke County High School | Waynesboro | High | 09-12 | 1,133 | · |
| Waynesboro Primary School | Waynesboro | Elementary | PK-02 | 924 | · |
| Burke County Middle School | Waynesboro | Middle | 06-08 | 828 | · |
| Blakeney Elementary | Waynesboro | Elementary | 03-05 | 726 | · |
| S G A Elementary School | Sardis | Elementary | PK-05 | 230 | · |
Cities in Burke County
About Burke County
Burke County is a thinly populated Georgia county of about 24,470 residents, home to 5 public schools and roughly 3,841 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $53,014, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 19%. That income level is 16% meaningfully below the Georgia median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Burke County consists of 3 elementary schools (1,880 students), 1 middle school (828), and 1 high school (1,133).
Burke County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,841 students across Burke County.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Burke County has contracted 8% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 4,192 students to 3,841.
On this page, the community for Burke County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data