High Schools in Dodge County

Dodge County High School and DAC (Dodge County Achievement Center) are the two high schools serving grades 9-12 in the Dodge County district, a rural area where the district ranks in the bottom quarter of Georgia (23rd percentile) and serves a student population with very high economic need.

Dodge County High School is the county’s flagship school, enrolling 809 students and posting strong operational metrics: a 96.7% graduation rate (well above the 87.2% state average), a 1.5% dropout rate, and chronic absenteeism of just 9.4%—roughly half the state rate. Its academic proficiency, however, trails state averages: 30% proficient in Algebra I, 35.3% in Biology, and 31.7% in U.S. History, compared to state rates of 48.1%, 47.2%, and 38.5%, respectively. Biology scores dropped sharply from 50.8% to 35.3% year-over-year, a swing worth watching. By contrast, DAC (Dodge County Achievement Center) is a small alternative school (51 students) ranked last in the state (455th of 455). It reports 0% proficiency in Biology and U.S. History, 33.9% chronic absenteeism, and 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility. DAC’s most recent graduation rate was 55.2% (2023-2024), with no rate reported for the latest year.

The two schools serve vastly different populations, and the contrast is stark. Dodge County High School achieves strong graduation and attendance outcomes despite proficiency rates 7-18 points below state averages, suggesting effective support for students toward completion. DAC (Dodge County Achievement Center) spends about $5,400 more per student ($17,145 vs. $11,703) yet sees minimal academic success, reflecting the profound challenges of its highly vulnerable student body. With 96.29% of students at the high school and 100% at DAC eligible for free/reduced lunch, poverty is pervasive across the district. Parents should note that ELA scores are not yet available and will be released in December; the absence of those scores should not be interpreted as a decline. Overall, Dodge County High School offers a stable, engaged environment, while DAC (Dodge County Achievement Center) serves a smaller, higher-need population with persistent challenges.