Wacona Elementary School

Located at 3101 State St, in Waycross, Georgia, Wacona Elementary School is a mid-tier elementary-level community that educates 885 students (grades pre-K through 5), part of Ware County. Compared to the state average of about 605 students per school, that is 46% bigger than typical.

Wacona Elementary School is one of 9 schools operated by Ware County, a district that enrolls 5,920 students overall.

On the student-mix side, Wacona Elementary School logs that White students make up the majority at 58%; the rest is composed of 27% Black, 9% Hispanic, 6% multiracial.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Wacona Elementary School shows 47 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 18.9:1. The state averages around 13.3:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. An estimated 86% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Wacona Elementary School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 32.7% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 38.8%.

Across the wider county, census data for Ware County shows the typical household earns roughly $47,448 per year, 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 17% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Wacona Elementary School is one of 10 public schools in Ware County (combined enrollment of about 5,927 students).

Nearest neighbor: Ware County Middle School, around 1.4 miles off. Within five miles, there are 6 other public schools. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Wacona Elementary School ranks 5th on composite proficiency, below the local average of 42.9%.

Wacona Elementary School operates from a small-town location.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Wacona Elementary School has edged down 10%, going from 988 students in 2018 to 885 in 2025. Over the same period, the Black share shrank from 33% to 27%. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 21.4:1 in 2018 to 18.9:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.