Crisp County

Crisp County is home to four public schools—two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—serving roughly 3,095 students in a rural Georgia district ranked in the bottom 10% statewide, where nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

Within the district, Crisp County Elementary School stands out as a clear bright spot. Despite serving a population with 100% poverty eligibility, it posts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 18.2%—far better than the district average of 27.4% and nearly on par with the state’s 17.7%. It also has the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.7:1) and the highest per-student spending ($17,769), suggesting that additional resources and attention may be paying off in engagement. In contrast, Crisp County Primary School, Crisp County Middle School, and Crisp County High School all struggle with chronic absenteeism above 28%, which likely compounds their academic challenges. The high school does offer a positive trend: its graduation rate of 81.7% has improved its state ranking over three consecutive years, even as its dropout rate (5.5%) remains more than double the state average.

Academically, the district trails state averages by 20–30 percentage points in nearly every subject. Math proficiency declines sharply as students advance—from 30.5% in 3rd grade to just 16.2% in 8th grade—while U.S. History (11.3%) and middle school social studies (13.0%) represent the lowest scores district-wide. Year-over-year results are mixed: Algebra I and 6th grade math improved, but 8th grade math and science declined. Notably, the district spends between $14,718 and $17,769 per student, yet outcomes remain low, indicating that funding alone isn’t driving improvement. For parents, the key takeaway is that Crisp County Elementary School demonstrates what’s possible with focused resources, while the middle and high schools need targeted support in math, social studies, and attendance to reverse current trends.