Best Public Schools in Augusta, GA

The city of Augusta, Georgia, is served by 42 schools—including 23 elementary, 6 middle, 12 high, and 1 alternative school—that educate more than 21,000 students, with the vast majority belonging to the Richmond County district, which ranks in the bottom 11th percentile statewide.

Augusta’s academic landscape is defined by a stark divide between its magnet schools and its neighborhood schools. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet is the clear standout, ranking 17th in the state with a 100% graduation rate, 93.1% Algebra I proficiency, and just 6.3% chronic absenteeism. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School and Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School also post 100% graduation rates and Biology proficiency near 63%. At the elementary level, Walker Traditional Elementary School leads with 4th-grade math proficiency of 84.7% and the district’s lowest absenteeism at 6.0%. By contrast, Butler High School ranks in the 5th percentile with just 1.6% Algebra I proficiency and 56.3% chronic absenteeism, while W.S. Hornsby Elementary School sits near the very bottom statewide with math proficiency below 9%.

Chronic absenteeism emerges as the strongest predictor of performance—schools above 40% absenteeism consistently score below 15% proficiency, while those under 10% achieve results three to six times higher. The district’s 30.3% absenteeism rate nearly doubles the state average, and 28 of 42 schools serve 100% economically disadvantaged students. Notably, higher spending does not translate to better outcomes: Copeland Elementary School spends $17,671 per student yet ranks in the 3rd percentile, while Davidson achieves elite results at $13,406 per student. The middle school transition is also a critical drop-off point, with feeder patterns like Glenn Hills Middle School (2nd percentile) showing dramatic declines from their elementary counterparts. The district’s central challenge is replicating magnet school success across its broader system, with attendance interventions appearing to offer the most promising path forward.