High Schools in Cartersville City

Cartersville City is home to a single high school, Cartersville High School, which serves grades 9–12 and enrolls about 1,469 students in a district ranked 69th out of 201 in Georgia.

Cartersville High School stands out for its strong student persistence. The graduation rate is 92.2%, five points above the state average, while the dropout rate of 1.2% is half the state’s 2.4%. Chronic absenteeism is also a bright spot at 11.5%, well below the state’s 17.7%. These numbers suggest students are engaged and staying on track to earn diplomas. However, academic proficiency tells a more mixed story. On End of Course tests, Biology proficiency (46.6%) is nearly even with the state (47.2%), but Algebra I proficiency (28.8%) trails the state by more than 19 points. U.S. History has remained flat at 28.3% for two straight years, about 10 points below the state average. The school’s state ranking slipped from 179th to 235th over the past year, even though test scores were largely stable—a sign that other schools across Georgia improved faster.

For parents, the takeaway is a school that excels at keeping students in school and graduating them, but faces clear instructional challenges in math and social studies. With a student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1 and per-student spending of $13,709, class sizes are reasonable, and the school serves a socioeconomically diverse population—52.4% qualify for free or reduced lunch. The district and school figures are nearly identical for most metrics, confirming that this one high school drives all district outcomes. The notable exception is Algebra I, where the district reports 47.9% proficiency versus the school’s 28.8%, suggesting middle school test-takers may be boosting the district average. Overall, Cartersville High School offers a supportive environment with strong graduation outcomes, but families should be aware of the gaps in math and history proficiency that represent key areas for improvement.