Irwin County

Irwin County Schools in Ocilla, Georgia, serves about 1,610 students across three schools: Irwin County Elementary School (PK-5), Irwin County Middle School (6-8), and Irwin County High School (9-12). The district ranks 78th out of 201 Georgia districts with a 3-star rating, and performance generally improves as students advance through grade levels.

Irwin County High School is the district’s standout, with a 94.1% graduation rate (well above the state’s 87.2%) and strong End-of-Course results in Algebra I (59.2% proficient vs. 48.1% state) and U.S. History (45.8% vs. 38.5% state). However, its Biology scores lag significantly (38.4% vs. 47.2% state). Irwin County Middle School showed the biggest improvement, jumping 67 spots in state ranking to the 62nd percentile, driven by exceptional 8th-grade science (41% proficient vs. 29.7% state) and social studies (45.6% vs. 40.2% state). Yet its 6th and 7th-grade math scores trail state averages by 9.6 and 13 points, respectively. Irwin County Elementary School is the weakest link, ranking in the 43rd-45th percentile, with 5th-grade math proficiency at just 27.6%—a 16.5-point gap versus the state—and all math scores below average.

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with all three schools exceeding the state rate of 17.7% (elementary 20.4%, middle 18.6%, high 22.3%). The elementary school reports 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility, and its math struggles may reflect foundational gaps that carry into middle school. Despite spending $13,639-$15,349 per student and maintaining favorable student-teacher ratios (12:1 to 14.6:1), the district’s elementary performance remains below par. The high school’s year-over-year EOC volatility—U.S. History dropped 13.2 points and Algebra I improved 9.2 points—suggests cohort differences rather than programmatic shifts. For parents, the middle school’s science program and the high school’s graduation success are clear strengths, while elementary math and district-wide attendance deserve attention.