Echols County

Echols County is a small, rural school district in southern Georgia serving about 917 students across two schools: Echols County Elementary/Middle School (PK-8) and Echols County High School (9-12), earning a 4-star district rating despite high poverty levels.

Echols County High School is the district's clear standout, climbing an impressive 74 spots in state rankings to reach the 85th percentile (4 stars) this year. The school now outperforms the state in every tested subject, with Algebra I proficiency at 68.8% (vs. 48.1% statewide) and Biology at 57.7% (vs. 47.2%). Biology scores jumped a remarkable 24.4 points in one year, and the school boasts a 94.1% graduation rate—well above the state average. In contrast, Echols County Elementary/Middle School has held steady at a 2-star rating, ranking in the 40-44th percentile. However, its 8th grade math proficiency (66.1%) is 20 points above the state average, and science scores are strong across both 5th grade (66.7% vs. 44.2%) and 8th grade (45.8% vs. 29.7%). Early elementary math remains a concern, with only 22% of 3rd graders and 25.8% of 4th graders proficient, though students show significant gains by middle school.

Both schools share notable strengths: chronic absenteeism is remarkably low (9.2% at the elementary/middle and 10.4% at the high school) compared to the 17.7% state average, despite 88% of elementary students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Science appears to be a district-wide emphasis, with consistent above-average performance at every level. The high school's higher per-student spending ($12,323 vs. $11,987) and smaller class sizes (12:1 vs. 16.3:1) appear to be paying off. One area to watch is social studies, where 8th grade scores dropped 9.5 points year-over-year to 30.5%, though the high school still exceeds state averages in U.S. History. Overall, this district defies demographic expectations, delivering strong results in several key areas while facing economic challenges.