Summary:
Charlton County is home to two elementary schools—Folkston Elementary School (grades PK-4, 545 students) and St. George Elementary School (grades PK-6, 198 students)—serving a predominantly rural area in southeast Georgia. Both schools consistently outperform state averages in mathematics, and the district ranks in the 80th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating.
St. George Elementary is the standout performer, earning a 5-star rating in 2024-2025 and ranking 58th out of 1,238 Georgia elementary schools (95th percentile). That year, it posted extraordinary results: 96.2% proficiency in 3rd grade math and 95.2% in 5th grade science—nearly double state averages. However, its most recent ranking dipped to 202nd (83rd percentile, 4 stars), with 6th grade math proficiency falling to 43.8% compared to 63.1% in 5th grade. Folkston Elementary shows remarkable consistency, holding a 4-star rating and ranking in the 84th-86th percentile for two straight years. Its 2025-2026 math scores are strong (76.2% in 3rd grade, 83.5% in 4th grade), and it has transformed from a 2-star school in 2015-2016 to a top-20% performer today.
Both schools serve high-poverty populations (80-93% free/reduced lunch) yet achieve well above state averages, with chronic absenteeism rates (10.4% at St. George, 12.4% at Folkston) far better than the state's 17.7%. St. George benefits from higher per-student spending ($15,761 vs. $13,639) and a slightly better student-teacher ratio (12.7:1 vs. 13.6:1). A notable gap exists at Folkston in 2024-2025: 4th grade math proficiency hit 84.9% while ELA was just 61.6%, suggesting literacy may need more attention. For parents, St. George offers exceptional small-school results with a caveat about 6th grade, while Folkston provides steady, high-quality education with impressive efficiency despite fewer resources per student.
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