Dames Ferry Elementary School

Set in Gray, Georgia, Dames Ferry Elementary School is an average-sized primary school, run under Jones County. It hosts 613 students across grades pre-K through 5.

Jones County comprises 7 schools with combined enrollment of 5,004 students; Dames Ferry Elementary School is among them.

On demographics, Dames Ferry Elementary School reports that 78% of the student body identifies as White; the rest consists of 13% Black, 5% multiracial, 3% Hispanic.

Looking at school resources, Staff filings list 40 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 15.3:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.3:1, putting Dames Ferry Elementary School higher than the state norm the norm. Around 40% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

With demographic context factored in, Dames Ferry Elementary School performs roughly as the BeatsExpectations model predicts for a school with this FRL share. The predicted value is around 56.8%, the actual is 56.1%, a residual of -0.7 points.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for Jones County put median household income runs about $75,500, roughly 20% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Across Jones County's 7 public schools (combined enrollment of about 5,004 students), Dames Ferry Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Jones County High School, around 4.2 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 3 other public schools cluster around Dames Ferry Elementary School. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Dames Ferry Elementary School ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, ahead of the local average of 41.3%.

Geographically, the school is in an outlying area.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked down 5%: 647 students in 2018 compared to 613 in 2025.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.