Jasper County

Jasper County School District in Monticello, Georgia, serves about 2,706 students across four schools—two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school—with a predominantly economically disadvantaged population (91-100% free/reduced lunch) and a district-wide 2-star rating.

The district's clear standout is Washington Park Elementary School, the only school to earn a 3-star rating. It improved its state ranking from the 37th to the 50th percentile, boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 9.4% (compared to the district's 15.5% and state's 17.7%), and its 5th grade science scores (45.9%) actually exceed the state average (44.2%). In contrast, Jasper County High School has seen its ranking decline for three straight years (now at the 36th percentile), with Algebra I proficiency dropping to 19.7%—though it still graduates 90.4% of students, above the state average. Jasper County Middle School presents a fascinating paradox: 96.3% of its Algebra I students are proficient (nearly double the state rate), yet its 8th grade science proficiency is just 15.1%, the district's weakest subject. Jasper County Primary School serves grades PK-2 with the lowest student-teacher ratio (12.4) and highest per-student spending ($14,786), though no test data is available for its youngest learners.

Parents should note a significant academic drop-off between elementary and middle school: Washington Park's 4th grade math proficiency (43.9%) is nearly 18 points higher than the middle school's 6th grade math (26.1%). The district also shows a concerning trend in high school math, where only 19.7% of students are proficient in Algebra I—a 76.6-point gap from the middle school's exceptional performance. However, the district's chronic absenteeism (15.5%) is below the state average, and Washington Park proves that strong attendance and targeted instruction can yield results approaching or exceeding state benchmarks. The middle school's Algebra I success suggests untapped potential for advanced coursework, while the high school's strong graduation rate indicates effective support for students despite academic challenges.