High Schools in Bulloch County

Bulloch County is home to three public high schools—Statesboro High School, Southeast Bulloch High School, and Portal Middle/High School—serving a combined 3,442 students across grades 9-12 (with Portal also covering grades 6-8). The district ranks 75th out of 201 Georgia districts with a 3-star rating, and all three schools serve predominantly economically disadvantaged populations, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 72% to nearly 90%.

Southeast Bulloch High School stands out as the district's strongest performer, ranking 141st statewide (69th percentile) and earning a 4-star rating. It leads in graduation rate (91.5%), has the lowest dropout rate (1.4%), and posts the lowest chronic absenteeism (19.8%). It is the only school exceeding state averages in all three End of Course subjects tested, including a notable 52.9% proficiency in Biology. Portal Middle/High School shows the most dramatic improvement, jumping 108 spots in state ranking over two years to 183rd (60th percentile). Despite having the highest poverty rate among the three (83.94%), Portal outperforms Statesboro High School in every subject, aided by the highest per-student spending ($16,324) and lowest student-teacher ratio (13.7:1).

Statesboro High School struggles most, ranking 274th statewide (40th percentile) with the lowest graduation rate (86.2%), highest dropout rate (3.4%), and highest chronic absenteeism (27.2%). Its test scores lag 10-17 points behind state averages, though it showed strong year-over-year gains in U.S. History (+11.3 points). Portal's 8th-grade social studies proficiency (22.9%) is an 18-point gap from state averages, suggesting a subject-specific issue. Chronic absenteeism emerges as the most actionable warning indicator—Statesboro's rate is 9.5 points above the state average, while Southeast Bulloch's is closest to the state norm. All three schools improved in Algebra I and Biology year-over-year, suggesting district-wide initiatives are gaining traction.