High Schools in Taylor County

Taylor County High School is the sole high school in Taylor County, serving grades 9–12 with 345 students in the rural community of Butler, Georgia. This small, high-poverty school (100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch) stands out for its exceptional graduation rate of 95.4%—more than 8 points above the state average—despite academic challenges on standardized tests.

The school has shown promising momentum in the most recent year, jumping from the 15th to the 28th percentile in state rankings. Most notably, Algebra I proficiency nearly doubled from 22.5% to 40.0%, closing much of the gap with the state average (48.1%). Biology also improved significantly, rising from 18.7% to 31.0% proficiency. However, U.S. History remains a critical weakness, with only 8.1% of students proficient compared to the state average of 38.5%—a 30-point gap that has barely budged year over year. Chronic absenteeism (20.1%) also exceeds state averages, suggesting that while attending students are well-supported, a substantial portion of the student body is missing valuable instructional time.

With a favorable 10.8:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $18,947—well above typical levels—the school has strong structural resources to support its students. The combination of a high graduation rate, improving test scores in key subjects, and recent ranking gains suggests that targeted initiatives may be taking effect. While the school remains in the lower third of Georgia high schools overall, its upward trajectory and strong student support systems provide a solid foundation for continued improvement. Parents should note that English Language Arts scores are not yet available and will be released in December.