Long County

Long County Schools serve approximately 4,724 students across five schools in Ludowici, Georgia, including three elementary schools (PK-1, 2-3, and 4-5), one middle school, and one high school, with the district currently ranking 84th out of 201 Georgia districts and earning a 3-star rating.

The standout performer is Long County Middle School, where an extraordinary 90.3% of students taking the Algebra I End of Course exam scored proficient or better—nearly double the district average and far exceeding the state's 48.1%. This is a remarkable achievement, though it contrasts sharply with the school's standard grade-level math scores (26.8-38.3%), which lag state averages. Meanwhile, Long County High School is a rising star, climbing from 147th to 110th in state rankings and exceeding state averages in every End of Course subject, including a standout 14-point advantage in US History (52.5% vs. 38.5%). The high school also boasts a 95.5% graduation rate, well above the state's 87.2%. At the elementary level, McClelland Elementary School has shown steady improvement over three years, though a concerning 17-point drop in math proficiency between 4th grade (41%) and 5th grade (23.8%) warrants attention.

District-wide, most subjects improved year-over-year, with notable gains in 6th grade math (+10.9 points) and 4th grade math (+12.7 points). However, chronic absenteeism remains a challenge, with the district rate of 20.6% exceeding the state's 17.7%, and Long County Primary School having the highest rate at 25.6%. Smiley Elementary School posts the lowest absenteeism at 16.6%. The district serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with free/reduced lunch rates between 73.5% and 80.3%, yet the high school's strong results suggest effective interventions are working. Overall, Long County is on an upward trajectory, though elementary math gaps and absenteeism remain key areas for continued focus.