Jones County

Jones County operates seven public schools—four elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school—serving roughly 5,000 students in a predominantly middle-income, central Georgia community. The district ranks 68th out of 201 Georgia districts (66th percentile) with a 3-star rating, and its schools generally meet or exceed state averages in math and science, though chronic absenteeism and high school performance remain challenges.

The district’s standout is Gray Station Middle School, ranked 107th in the state (81st percentile, 4 stars) and climbing steadily. It dramatically outperforms Clifton Ridge Middle School by 14–27 percentage points across nearly every subject—for example, 65.3% vs. 37.9% in 8th-grade math—despite similar demographics. Gray Station also posts a 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra I End of Course exam, and both middle schools far exceed state averages on advanced Physical Science exams. At the elementary level, Turner Woods Elementary leads with 71.8% 3rd-grade math proficiency (23.5 points above the state) and the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism at 11.9%. Dames Ferry Elementary shines in 5th grade, posting 61.0% math and 66.2% science proficiency—both about 20 points above district averages—despite weaker 3rd-grade scores.

Conversely, Mattie Wells Elementary is a serious concern: its 5th-grade math proficiency (20.4%) is less than half the district average, and its state ranking has fallen to the 23rd percentile. Jones County High School also lags, with US History proficiency 6.3 points below the state and a 38.2% chronic absenteeism rate—more than double the state average—while its ranking has declined three straight years. District-wide, chronic absenteeism (23.1%) exceeds the state by 5.4 points, and per-student spending shows no clear link to outcomes. The district’s clear strengths are science and advanced middle-school coursework, which could be leveraged further once ELA results arrive in December.