Miller County

Miller County is a small, rural district in southwest Georgia serving about 772 students across three schools—Miller County Elementary School (PK-5), Miller County Middle School (6-8), and Miller County High School (9-12)—all sharing one campus in Colquitt. The district ranks 133rd out of 201 Georgia districts, and nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The standout story is Miller County High School, which surged from a 1-star to a 3-star rating in a single year, jumping from the 24th to the 51st percentile statewide. Its Biology proficiency (66.1%) is nearly 19 points above the state average, and its graduation rate (89.9%) beats the state’s 87.2%. However, the high school struggles with Algebra I (18.2% vs. 48.1% statewide) and US History (20% vs. 38.5%). In contrast, Miller County Middle School has fallen from 3 stars to 1 star over two years. Its 8th-grade science proficiency is just 2.6% (state: 29.7%), and social studies is 10.6% (state: 40.2%). Yet the middle school excels in advanced math: its Algebra I students hit 52.6% proficiency, beating the state average—while the high school’s Algebra I students lag far behind. Miller County Elementary School remains steady at 2 stars, with math proficiency (31.4%-37.7%) trailing state averages by 8-13 points, though its chronic absenteeism (14.4%) is the lowest in the district.

Key takeaways for parents: the middle school’s advanced math pathway is a clear strength, but its 8th-grade science and social studies scores are critical red flags. The high school’s dramatic improvement is encouraging, but its Algebra I decline and high chronic absenteeism (18.6%) warrant attention. District-wide, math and science lag state averages, and small class sizes (171-365 students per school) mean year-to-year scores can swing wildly—like the high school’s Biology jumping from 8.8% to 66.1% in one year. The high school spends the most per student ($18,379) yet still struggles in core subjects, suggesting resources alone don’t drive results. With ELA scores not yet released, parents should watch for those results in December to complete the picture.