Total enrollment
5,927
-212 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
Ware County
Georgia · Public K-12
Public-school families in Ware County pick from 10 schools serving the county's roughly 5,927 K-12 students, with a mix of 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high.
7-year change in Ware County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
45%
was 51%
% Hispanic
9%
was 7%
% Black
38%
was 36%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
10
2 districts
Enrollment
5,927
NCES CCD
Median income
$47,448
Below Georgia avg
Free/reduced lunch
87.0%
Above Georgia avg
Elementary
6
2,929 students
Middle
2
1,358 students
High
2
1,640 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ware County Public Schools
5,920 students · 2 districts in Ware County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ware 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+
14.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
17.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.9%
civilian labor
Median age
38
24.8% under 18
Test scores in Ware County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Georgia state average: 40.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Center Elementary School· 38.2%
- Ruskin Elementary School· 36.1%
- Williams Heights Elementary School· 35.7%
- Memorial Drive Elementary School· 35.5%
- Wacona Elementary School· 34.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Waycross Middle School· 30.5%
- Ware County Middle School· 33.5%
- Wacona Elementary School· 34.6%
- Waresboro Elementary School· 34.6%
- Memorial Drive Elementary School· 35.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ware County High School | Waycross | High | 09-12 | 1,633 | · |
| Wacona Elementary School | Waycross | Elementary | PK-05 | 885 | · |
| Ware County Middle School | Waycross | Middle | 06-08 | 752 | · |
| Waycross Middle School | Waycross | Middle | 06-08 | 606 | · |
| Center Elementary School | Waycross | Elementary | KG-05 | 470 | · |
| Williams Heights Elementary School | Waycross | Elementary | KG-05 | 436 | · |
| Waresboro Elementary School | Waycross | Elementary | KG-05 | 429 | · |
| Ruskin Elementary School | Waycross | Elementary | KG-05 | 363 | · |
| Memorial Drive Elementary School | Waycross | Elementary | KG-05 | 346 | · |
| Waycross Regional Youth Detention Center | Waycross | High | 05-12 | 7 | · |
Cities in Ware County
About Ware County
Ware County is a compact Georgia county of about 35,976 residents, home to 10 public schools and roughly 5,927 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $47,448, 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 17%. That income level is 24% meaningfully below the Georgia median.
On the school-mix side, Ware County spans 6 elementary schools (2,929 students), 2 middle schools (1,358), and 2 high schools (1,640).
The largest single district in Ware County is Ware County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 5,920 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,927 students, fell 3% from the 6,139 reported in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 51% to 45% over the same window.
On allk12, the community for Ware County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Ware County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data