Fayette County

Fayette County is home to 24 public schools—14 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools—serving a suburban Atlanta community that ranks among the top districts in Georgia (12th out of 201, with a 5-star rating). The district consistently outperforms state averages across all subjects, with a 95.3% graduation rate versus the state’s 87.2%, and a chronic absenteeism rate of 11.0% compared to the state’s 17.7%.

At the high school level, McIntosh High School and Starrs Mill High School lead the pack, both ranking in the 96th percentile statewide. Starrs Mill edges out McIntosh with a 98.5% graduation rate and standout Biology (83.2% proficient) and U.S. History (82.6%) scores, while McIntosh posts 98.2% graduation and leads in Algebra I (76.7%). Rising Starr Middle School is the top middle school (24th in the state), with the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism (5.4%) and 94.8% Algebra I proficiency. Among elementary schools, Braelinn Elementary (33rd in the state) and Peeples Elementary (38th) stand out, with Braelinn posting 91.7% proficiency in 4th-grade Math and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (9.29%).

A clear pattern emerges: schools with lower poverty rates tend to perform better. Braelinn, Peeples, and Starrs Mill all have free/reduced lunch rates below 17%, while Spring Hill Elementary (72.31% FRL), North Fayette Elementary (67.86%), and Fayetteville Elementary (64.69%) rank lower. Notably, higher spending doesn’t guarantee success—Cleveland Elementary spends the most per student ($19,408) but ranks mid-tier, while McIntosh spends the least ($12,260). One red flag: Sandy Creek High School dropped from 107th to 159th in state rankings, with Algebra I proficiency falling from 49.1% to 28%. Middle schools excel in advanced math, with J.C. Booth Middle and Whitewater Middle achieving near-perfect Algebra I proficiency (100% and 99.3%).