Best Public Schools in Hazlehurst, GA

The city of Hazlehurst, Georgia, is served by four public schools within the Jeff Davis County district, which together educate roughly 3,074 students across grades PK-12 and hold a 4-star district rating despite serving a predominantly economically disadvantaged population.

For parents, the standout school in this area is Jeff Davis Middle School, which has climbed from the 201st to the 131st position in state rankings over two years and now sits in the top quarter of Georgia middle schools. Its mathematics proficiency rates are exceptional—7th graders hit 54.9% and 8th graders 58.3%, both roughly 12 points above state averages—and its 8th grade social studies proficiency of 56.6% exceeds the state by a remarkable 16.4 points. The middle school achieves these results with the lowest per-student spending in the district ($12,210) and the best student-teacher ratio (14.3:1). Meanwhile, Jeff Davis High School posts a stunning 98.9% graduation rate—nearly 12 points above the state average—and has improved its ranking by 58 positions in a single year. Its Biology proficiency (55.4%) also outpaces the state by 8.2 points. At the elementary level, Jeff Davis Elementary School (grades 3-5) is the only school in the district with chronic absenteeism below the state average, while Jeff Davis Primary School (grades PK-2) receives the highest per-student funding ($13,927) but struggles with a 26.5% chronic absenteeism rate.

The district's most notable challenge is a consistent 5th grade dip: math proficiency falls 5.4 points below the state, and science trails by 7.5 points—an anomaly since every other grade level meets or exceeds state averages in math. Chronic absenteeism also deserves attention, particularly at the primary school, where the rate is nearly 9 points above the state. However, the overall trajectory is positive, with year-over-year improvements in high school Biology (+11.7 points) and Algebra I (+6.9 points), plus steady gains at the middle school level. For parents, this district offers a compelling combination of strong middle school academics, an exceptional high school graduation rate, and clear momentum—though the 5th grade transition and early-grade attendance are areas worth monitoring.