Total enrollment
5,927
-185 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Ware County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Ware County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Georgia | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 44.6% | #43 of 129 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,927 | #53 of 137 | #1,178 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 10 | #53 of 137 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.4:1 | #41 of 137 | #1,101 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 87.0% | #77 of 137 | #364 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 64.3% | #29 of 137 | #360 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.
Ware County school rankings
Residents
35,976
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
10
2 districts
Enrollment
5,927
students · 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 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,927 students, fell 3% from the 6,112 reported in SY 2020-21.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data