High Schools in Telfair County

Telfair County, Georgia is home to two high schools serving grades 9-12 (and 6-12 for the alternative program): Telfair County High School, the traditional comprehensive high school with 388 students, and Telfair Alternative Preparation School, a small alternative program with just 18 students. Both schools serve student populations where 100% qualify for free/reduced lunch, and the Telfair County district ranks 83rd out of 201 Georgia districts with a 3-star rating.

Telfair County High School is the clear standout, showing remarkable improvement over the past two years. The school jumped from the 48th to the 60th percentile in state rankings, climbing 55 positions and earning a 3-star rating. Its graduation rate of 93.9% exceeds both the district (87.5%) and state (87.2%) averages by more than 6 points. The school also shines in U.S. History, with 49.4% proficiency in 2025-2026—nearly 11 points above the state average. Algebra I proficiency improved dramatically from 32.4% to 47.0% year-over-year. However, Biology scores are volatile: the school posted an impressive 61.7% proficiency in 2024-2025 (17.5 points above state), but dropped to 34.3% in 2025-2026 (12.9 points below state). Chronic absenteeism at 16.7% is actually better than both district and state averages, a positive sign given the high poverty levels.

In contrast, Telfair Alternative Preparation School faces significant challenges. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 65.7% is nearly four times the state average, and its dropout rate of 26.3% is dramatically higher than the district's 3.6%. The reported student-teacher ratio of 45:1 is extraordinarily high—more than three times the traditional high school's 13.4:1—and likely warrants verification. While the alternative school spends more per student ($18,772 vs. $16,518), outcomes are difficult to assess due to limited test data. For parents, Telfair County High School offers a strong graduation rate, improving test scores, and low absenteeism, making it a solid choice despite below-state proficiency in some subjects. English Language Arts results have not yet been released for this cycle.