Wheeler County

Wheeler County Schools is a small, rural Georgia district serving about 848 students across three schools: Wheeler County Elementary School (PK-5), Wheeler County Middle School (6-8), and Wheeler County High School (9-12). The district holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 62nd percentile of Georgia districts.

Wheeler County High School is the district’s standout, with a 96.6% graduation rate—nearly 10 points above the state average—despite two-thirds of its students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. It also exceeds the state in U.S. History proficiency (41.2% vs. 38.5%) and nearly matches state averages in Algebra I and Biology. Wheeler County Middle School shines in advanced math: its Algebra I End of Course proficiency rate of 66.6% far outpaces the state’s 48.1%. However, its 6th and 7th grade math scores lag the state by 10+ points, suggesting a focus on accelerating top students while grade-level support may need attention. Wheeler County Elementary School shows strength in upper grades, with 5th grade math (53.2%) and science (48.9%) both exceeding state averages, though 3rd and 4th grade math trail the state.

A key concern is chronic absenteeism at the elementary level, where 24.9% of students are chronically absent—well above the state’s 17.7%—while middle and high school rates are much lower (12.9% and 11.8%). The district spends generously per student ($14,963–$16,624) and maintains favorable student-teacher ratios (9:1 to 12.5:1). Test scores show notable year-over-year swings, such as 5th grade science dropping from 68% to 48.9%, reflecting the impact of small cohorts. Despite these fluctuations, the district has held a steady 3-star rating for three years, indicating consistent overall performance even as individual subjects vary.