Best Public Schools in Gray, GA

The city of Gray, Georgia, is served by the Jones County School District, which includes five schools—one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools—enrolling roughly 3,938 students across a predominantly middle-income area.

For parents, the standout is Gray Station Middle School, which is a clear academic powerhouse. It posted a perfect 100% proficiency rate in Algebra I and 91.3% in High School Physical Science, both far above state averages, and it has improved its state ranking for three straight years. At the elementary level, Turner Woods Elementary School leads the pack, with 3rd grade math proficiency at 71.8% (23.5 points above the state) and the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 11.9%. In contrast, Jones County High School is the district’s biggest concern: its ranking has slipped three consecutive years, chronic absenteeism sits at a troubling 38.2% (more than double the state average), and its American Literature and U.S. History scores lag well behind state norms. Dames Ferry Elementary School and Gray Elementary School fall in the middle, with Dames Ferry showing strong 5th grade math (61%) and Gray Elementary spending the most per student ($15,878) yet ranking lowest in the district.

Science is a district-wide strength, with every school beating state averages at every tested grade level, including 8th grade science at 50.6% versus 29.7% statewide. However, elementary math is inconsistent—Turner Woods drops from 71.8% in 3rd grade to 45.5% in 5th grade—suggesting teacher-level effects matter more than school culture. Notably, higher spending does not translate to better results, and the high school’s declining trajectory is especially puzzling given that 100% of middle schoolers arrive with Algebra I mastery. The district overall ranks in the 66th percentile statewide, but the high school’s engagement issues threaten to undermine the strong pipeline feeding it from below.