High Schools in Brooks County

Brooks County is served by two high schools—Brooks County High School (542 students) and Delta Innovative School (107 students)—both covering grades 6-12 in a rural, economically challenged area where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Brooks County High School is the traditional comprehensive option and shows strong momentum. Its graduation rate is excellent at 97.6%, well above the state’s 87.2%, and its state ranking jumped 93 spots to the 32nd percentile. Biology proficiency surged 26 points to 42.8%, nearly matching the state average of 47.2%—a remarkable feat given the student population. However, Algebra I (21.9%) and US History (11.4%) remain far below state averages, and chronic absenteeism is a concern at 25.6%, meaning roughly one in four students misses significant school. By contrast, Delta Innovative School has virtually no absenteeism problem (0.6%) and still graduates 92.3% of students, above the state rate. Yet its test scores are extremely low—single-digit proficiency in most subjects—and its state ranking sits in the bottom 3%.

The two schools present a clear trade-off. Brooks County High School delivers stronger academics and dramatic year-over-year improvement but struggles with attendance. Delta Innovative excels at keeping students engaged and graduating at-risk youth, but standardized test performance lags significantly. Per-student spending also differs notably: $16,921 at Brooks County High versus $12,783 at Delta. For parents, the choice depends on student needs—those seeking a traditional academic path with rising scores may prefer Brooks County High, while those needing a smaller, more personalized setting with strong attendance support might find Delta Innovative a better fit. Both schools face the same district-wide economic challenges, yet both exceed the state graduation average, which is a meaningful accomplishment for this community.