McIntosh County

McIntosh County Schools is a small, rural coastal district in Georgia serving about 1,394 students across three schools—Todd Grant Elementary School (PK-5), McIntosh County Middle School (6-8), and McIntosh Academy (9-12)—with nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

The standout in this district is McIntosh Academy, which posts an exceptional 98.1% graduation rate—about 11 points above the state average—despite End of Course proficiency rates (31-38%) that lag state averages. The high school also improved its state ranking from the 38th to 55th percentile before settling at 42nd. McIntosh County Middle School shows a bright spot in 6th-grade math, where 51.5% of students are proficient (state: 40.7%), and it has the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism at 15.5%. However, math proficiency falls sharply by 8th grade to 22.3% versus the state’s 46.3%. Todd Grant Elementary School struggles most in 5th grade, where math proficiency drops to 21.3% (from 38% in 4th grade) and science sits at 30.6% versus the state’s 44.2%.

Key takeaways for parents: the middle school’s 6th-grade math success suggests strong early instruction, but the steep decline by 8th grade points to a possible curriculum misalignment. The high school’s high graduation rate paired with low test scores may reflect credit recovery or alternative pathways. Chronic absenteeism is above the state average at the elementary (19.8%) and high school (20.7%) levels, but below at the middle school. Per-pupil spending is substantial ($13,000-$15,500), yet outcomes generally trail state averages, likely reflecting the challenges of serving a high-poverty population. The district’s ranking has stayed stable in the 38th-40th percentile over three years, indicating consistency rather than improvement.