Lanier County

Lanier County Schools, located in Lakeland, Georgia, serves approximately 1,650 students across three schools: Lanier County Elementary School (PK-5), Lanier County Middle School (6-8), and Lanier County High School (9-12). The district earns a 4-star rating, ranking in the 73rd percentile of Georgia districts, and serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Lanier County Middle School stands out as the district’s top performer, earning the only 4-star rating among the three schools and ranking in the 71st percentile statewide. Its most impressive achievement is in Algebra I, where 84% of middle school students passed the End-of-Course exam—nearly 36 points above the state average and far exceeding the high school’s 44.3% pass rate. The middle school also excels in 8th-grade science (37.4% proficiency vs. 29.7% statewide) and 8th-grade social studies (47.6% vs. 40.2%). However, its scores show significant year-over-year volatility, including a 23-point drop in 8th-grade science and a 15-point drop in 8th-grade math, suggesting performance is not yet stable. Lanier County Elementary School provides a strong foundation, consistently beating state averages in math across all grade levels—most notably in 4th grade (59.3% vs. 50.1%)—and has improved its percentile ranking for three straight years (63rd to 70th).

Lanier County High School posts a remarkable 96.8% graduation rate, nearly 10 points above the state average, despite below-average End-of-Course exam scores in Algebra I, Biology, and US History. Its chronic absenteeism rate (17.3%) is the highest in the district and essentially matches the state average, while the elementary school’s rate is much lower at 11.9%. The district as a whole keeps chronic absenteeism below the state level (14.2% vs. 17.7%). Per-student spending is lowest at the middle school ($12,739) despite its strong results, while the high school spends the most ($14,068). Overall, Lanier County achieves above-average outcomes—including a 4-star district rating and strong graduation rates—while serving a high-needs population, demonstrating that socioeconomic factors are not limiting student success here.