Summary:
Edison, Georgia is a small community served by four schools—Pataula Charter Academy, Calhoun County Elementary School, Calhoun County High School, and Calhoun County Middle School—that together serve about 1,021 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with the majority of families qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
For parents, the standout choice is Pataula Charter Academy, which posts the area’s best graduation rate at 95% (above the state’s 87.2%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 14.5%. It also leads in several subjects, including Biology (34.9% proficient), American Literature (45.7%), and 6th- and 7th-grade math, all exceeding state averages. Among the traditional Calhoun County schools, Calhoun County Elementary School is the rising star, climbing from the 20th to the 46th percentile in state rankings and posting a strong 51.7% proficiency in 5th-grade science. Calhoun County High School also exceeds the state graduation average at 91.5%, but Calhoun County Middle School remains the district’s biggest challenge, with 8th-grade social studies at just 10.3% proficiency and math at 27.6%—both far below state averages.
One notable pattern is that Calhoun County schools spend significantly more per student ($19,988 to $22,910) than Pataula Charter Academy ($14,364), yet Pataula achieves comparable or better outcomes in many areas. Chronic absenteeism is also higher at the Calhoun schools (16.3% to 20.3%) compared to Pataula’s 14.5%. While test scores are generally below state averages, graduation rates defy that trend, suggesting strong support for students who persist. Small class sizes—especially at the middle school with just 90 students—mean year-to-year scores can swing dramatically, so parents should look at multi-year trends rather than a single year’s results.
Thank you for your feedback!