Best Public Schools in Savannah, GA

Savannah-Chatham County is home to 48 schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including 27 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 11 high schools, and 3 alternative schools, with enrollment ranging from just 25 students at the Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center to over 1,500 at Godley Station School.

For parents, the standout news is that several Savannah schools achieve exceptional results despite serving high-poverty populations. Savannah Classical Academy Charter High School ranks #5 in the state with 95.6% Algebra I proficiency, while Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School ranks #9 with a 100% graduation rate and only 5.4% chronic absenteeism. Savannah Arts Academy and Savannah Early College High School also post 100% graduation rates. At the elementary level, Savannah Classical Academy Charter School leads with 94.1% 5th grade science proficiency despite 93% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. The highest-performing schools are predominantly magnet or charter schools, while traditional neighborhood schools like Myers Middle School and Haven Elementary School struggle with single-digit proficiency rates.

Chronic absenteeism is the strongest predictor of success—schools with rates below 10% consistently outperform those above 25%. The district's middle schools are the greatest concern, with five of seven ranking in the bottom 13th percentile statewide. However, schools like Butler Elementary and Gould Elementary show significant improvement, and the islands cluster (Marshpoint Elementary, May Howard Elementary, Coastal Middle School) performs well above district averages. Per-student spending varies widely from $2,613 to $27,956 but shows no clear relationship to outcomes, suggesting school culture and leadership matter more than funding levels.