Summary:
The city of Folkston, Georgia, is served by the Charlton County School District, which includes four schools spanning elementary through high school and enrolling roughly 1,600 students in a predominantly rural, low-income area.
Folkston’s elementary schools are the clear standouts. St. George Elementary School earned a 5-star rating in 2024-2025, ranking in the 95th percentile statewide, with 3rd grade math proficiency at 96.2%—more than double the state average—and 5th grade science at 95.2%. Folkston Elementary School is a consistent 4-star performer, posting 4th grade math scores above 83% and improving from the 32nd to the 84th percentile over the past decade. Both schools outperform state averages despite high poverty rates, with free/reduced lunch eligibility above 80%. Chronic absenteeism is also low at both schools (10.4% and 12.4%, respectively), well below the state’s 17.7%.
The picture shifts dramatically at the secondary level. Bethune Middle School shows a steep math drop-off: 8th grade proficiency is just 38.1% versus 46.3% statewide, though its 8th grade science (39.7%) beats the state by 10 points. Charlton County High School is the district’s biggest concern—its ranking fell from the 66th to the 49th percentile, and Algebra I proficiency sits at 24.8%, less than half the state average. Yet the high school graduates 96.6% of students, far above the state’s 87.2%, and its US History scores exceed state averages. The district’s challenge is clear: elementary excellence gives way to secondary struggles, particularly in math, making the transition years the most critical area for improvement.
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