Summary:
Barrow County Schools serve approximately 14,140 students across 17 schools—10 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools—in a growing suburban area northeast of Atlanta, with the district earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 51st percentile statewide.
The clear standout is Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy (BASA), which ranks in the 92nd percentile with a 5-star rating, a 97% graduation rate, and proficiency rates 19–27 points above state averages in every tested subject—all while serving a student body where nearly half qualify for free/reduced lunch. Among traditional high schools, Apalachee High School (92.5% graduation) outperforms Winder-Barrow High School (90.7%), though both struggle with chronic absenteeism above 26% and Algebra I proficiency below 43%. The district's middle schools are its strength: Haymon-Morris Middle School leads with 93.4% Algebra I proficiency and jumped from the 52nd to 67th percentile, while Russell Middle School posts the lowest chronic absenteeism among middle schools (12.8%). All four middle schools exceed 71% Algebra I proficiency, far above the 48.1% state average.
Elementary results vary widely. Austin Road Elementary School, Bramlett Elementary School, and Bethlehem Elementary School consistently exceed state math averages, while Yargo Elementary School and Auburn Elementary School have declined to the 17th and 24th percentiles, respectively—despite Auburn spending the most per student ($18,228). Chronic absenteeism is notably lower at elementary schools (best: Bramlett at 8.4%) than at high schools (worst: Apalachee at 28.5%). Science proficiency lags district-wide, with most schools below state averages in 5th and 8th grade science. Encouragingly, several schools—including Haymon-Morris, Austin Road, and Winder Elementary School—are improving their state rankings, suggesting effective practices may be transferable across the district.
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