Summary:
The city of Metter, Georgia, is served by the Candler County School District, which includes four schools—Metter Elementary School, Metter Middle School, Metter High School, and Metter College and Career Academy—serving approximately 2,157 students across grades pre-K through 12. This is a high-poverty district, with three of the four schools reporting 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and the high school at 85%.
Metter Middle School is the district's standout performer, earning a 3-star rating and climbing from the 45th to the 56th percentile. Its Algebra I proficiency rate of 88.8% is extraordinary—nearly double the state average of 48.1%—and its 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math scores all exceed state averages. Metter High School shines with a 99.2% graduation rate, well above the state's 87.2%, and both high schools exceed the state average in Biology. Metter College and Career Academy showed the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 12th to the 33rd percentile, with Biology proficiency more than tripling to 51.3%.
However, challenges remain. Social Studies is a district-wide weakness, with 8th grade proficiency at just 9.1% versus the state's 40.2%, and US History scores around 15-17% versus the state's 38.5%. Metter Elementary School saw a significant drop in 5th grade math, falling from 50.7% to 31.9% proficiency. Chronic absenteeism is generally below the state average of 17.7%, with the high school leading at 11.6%, though the Academy's rate of 17.0% is higher. The Academy also spends considerably less per student ($8,767) than other district schools ($13,909-$15,419), yet still improved markedly, suggesting potential for further gains across the district.
Thank you for your feedback!