Best Public Schools in Tybee Island, GA

Tybee Island, Georgia, is served by a single public school, Tybee Island Maritime Academy School, a K-8 elementary school with 432 students that consistently ranks among the top 13% of all schools in the state.

For parents, this one school is an exceptional choice. Tybee Island Maritime Academy School has earned a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for three consecutive years, improving its statewide percentile ranking from the 79th to the 87th percentile since 2023. The school dramatically outperforms its own district, Savannah-Chatham County, in every subject and grade level. In 8th-grade science, for example, 60.5% of students are proficient versus just 22.7% district-wide. The most stunning achievement is in Algebra I, where 100% of students scored proficient or above on the End-of-Course exam for two consecutive years—compared to 48.1% statewide. Math proficiency is strong across all grades, ranging from 54% in 6th and 7th grades to 81% in 4th grade, with a notable rebound to 67.4% by 8th grade. Science scores are also impressive, particularly in 8th grade (60.5% vs. 29.7% statewide). The most recent English Language Arts data (2024-2025) shows proficiency rates between 48% and 64%, all exceeding state averages; current-year ELA results will be released in December.

The school's success is supported by favorable conditions: chronic absenteeism is just 9.8% (roughly half the state average), the student-teacher ratio is a low 12.5:1, and per-student spending is $15,748. With 33.1% of students receiving free/reduced lunch, the school serves a relatively affluent population, but its performance exceeds what demographics alone would predict. The most dramatic year-over-year improvement came in 8th-grade social studies, which jumped nearly 16 percentage points to 47.6% proficiency. While there is a common "middle school dip" in math (5th-7th grades), the strong 8th-grade rebound and perfect Algebra I pass rate indicate the school successfully prepares students for high school. Overall, Tybee Island Maritime Academy School is a high-functioning, well-resourced school that is a clear asset to the Tybee Island community.