High Schools in Jeff Davis County

Jeff Davis High School is the sole high school in Jeff Davis County, serving grades 9–12 in Hazlehurst, GA, with 835 students. This rural school stands out for its exceptional graduation rate of 98.9%—nearly 12 points above the state average—despite serving a student body where over 92% qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has shown strong momentum, improving its state ranking from 202 (55th percentile) in 2024–2025 to 144 (68th percentile) in 2025–2026, a jump of 58 positions.

Academically, Biology is a clear strength. In 2025–2026, 55.4% of students scored proficient, beating the state average by 8.2 points and improving 11.7 points from the prior year. Algebra I proficiency also rose from 40.7% to 47.6%, nearly matching the state average, while U.S. History remained steady at 39.3%, slightly above the state. The one area of concern is English Language Arts: in 2024–2025, only 30.6% of students were proficient in American Literature and Composition, a 9.8-point gap below the state. Note that current ELA scores are not yet available in this release, so this finding is based on the most recent data provided.

Attendance is a minor challenge, with a chronic absenteeism rate of 18.7%—one point above the state average but below the district's 20.5%. Despite this, the school's high graduation rate suggests strong support systems help students persist. Per-student spending is $12,478 with a student-teacher ratio of 16.8:1, both typical for Georgia. The district itself ranks in the 79th percentile statewide, outperforming the school's 68th percentile, likely reflecting strong performance across all grade levels. Overall, Jeff Davis High School demonstrates that high-poverty schools can achieve excellent outcomes, with notable strengths in Biology and graduation rates, while ELA remains the key area for improvement.