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Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12
544th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,222 Georgia Alternative Schools
Better than 55% of Georgia alternative schools
Summary

Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics in Hephzibah, GA, is a state-sponsored charter school serving 1,015 students in grades K-12, operating as its own district (State Specialty Schools I- Georgia School for Innovation and) and offering a notably larger, more comprehensive alternative to the only nearby listed school, Lighthouse Care Center of Augusta, a specialized residential facility with just 32 students.

This school stands out for several impressive achievements. Its graduation rate is exceptional, hitting a perfect 100% in 2023-2024 and remaining high at 95.7% in 2024-2025, compared to the state average of 87.2%. Students also shine in social studies, with 8th-grade proficiency rates of 64.6% in 2024-2025—more than 25 points above the state—and they consistently outperform the state in 8th-grade science and Biology End-of-Course exams. The school also invests heavily in its students, spending over $10,000 per pupil and maintaining a favorable 14:1 student-teacher ratio. Chronic absenteeism has trended downward from a high of 24.2% in 2021-2022 to 17.4% in 2025-2026, now slightly below the state average, which aligns with the school’s strong graduation outcomes.

However, the picture is mixed in math. While 3rd-grade math proficiency (61.3%) is well above the state average (48.3%), 5th-grade math (24%) and Algebra I (11.1% vs. state’s 48.1%) lag significantly, suggesting a challenge in sustaining math gains as students advance. This contrast—strong in social studies and science, but struggling in higher-level math—points to a clear area for targeted support. For parents, this school offers a tight-knit, well-funded environment with excellent graduation rates and standout humanities and science instruction, but they should be aware that math achievement, especially in middle and high school, may require extra attention at home.

1,015
Students ?
14.2
Student/teacher ratio ?
$10,345
Per pupil spending ?
0.3%
Free/reduced lunch eligible (2022-23) ?
 5073 Storey Mill Rd
       Hephzibah, GA  30815

(706) 434-8085

District: State Specialty Schools I- Georgia School for Innovation and

Racial breakdown:

White:
75.6%
African American:
12.3%
Hispanic:
5.9%
more
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 Compare Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics to nearby alternative schools!
At a glance
▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 66th percentile in 2023 → 51st in 2026
Strengths
✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Georgia average (87%)
✓Above the Georgia median (55th percentile)
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2023
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
!Algebra I scores 37 pts below the Georgia average
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school40%
District avg40%
Georgia avg44%
Elementary school
544th of 1,222
Georgia public elementary schools ?
Top 45%▲ up 8 pts since 2018
From bottom 47% (2018) to top 45% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Georgia Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
234th of 578
Georgia public middle schools ?
Top 40%▲ up 16 pts since 2018
From bottom 44% (2018) to top 40% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Georgia Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
222nd of 457
Georgia public high schools ?
Top 49%▼ down 4 pts since 2022
From top 44% (2022) to top 49% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Georgia High Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202650.0544 of 122255.5%★★★☆☆
202551.9541 of 123856.3%★★★☆☆
202457.9471 of 123661.9%★★★☆☆
202365.8383 of 122368.7%★★★☆☆
202266.9370 of 122069.7%★★★☆☆
202164.1398 of 121467.2%★★★☆☆
201948.9598 of 123451.5%★★★☆☆
201844.6639 of 120947.1%★★☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202648.9544 of 118954.2%★★★☆☆
202549.4566 of 122453.8%★★★☆☆
202458.3453 of 122363.0%★★★☆☆
202361.7413 of 121265.9%★★★☆☆
202266.3359 of 120670.2%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202648.8554 of 118653.3%★★★☆☆
202553.1524 of 122557.2%★★★☆☆
202455.4494 of 122059.5%★★★☆☆
202368.0349 of 121071.2%★★★★☆
202265.6376 of 120968.9%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202625.8553 of 70321.3%★☆☆☆☆
202521.2647 of 76915.9%★☆☆☆☆
202429.1566 of 77226.7%★☆☆☆☆
202340.9447 of 77542.3%★★☆☆☆
202243.5425 of 77945.4%★★☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202655.2234 of 57859.5%★★★☆☆
202550.2266 of 58554.5%★★★☆☆
202464.8180 of 57868.9%★★★☆☆
202379.4104 of 56981.7%★★★★☆
202281.390 of 55883.9%★★★★☆
202174.8116 of 54278.6%★★★★☆
201950.8264 of 55952.8%★★★☆☆
201842.5306 of 54343.6%★★☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202651.3249 of 55054.7%★★★☆☆
202546.0289 of 56749.0%★★☆☆☆
202458.5197 of 55864.7%★★★☆☆
202365.4164 of 55370.3%★★★★☆
202271.1132 of 54475.7%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202657.1211 of 55061.6%★★★☆☆
202552.4242 of 56957.5%★★★☆☆
202467.6150 of 56173.3%★★★★☆
202388.249 of 55991.2%★★★★★
202285.864 of 55388.4%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202631.0296 of 40426.7%★☆☆☆☆
202528.3314 of 41524.3%★☆☆☆☆
202443.7221 of 41747.0%★★☆☆☆
202356.5173 of 42959.7%★★★☆☆
202263.7131 of 42569.2%★★★☆☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202640.5222 of 45751.4%★★★☆☆
202553.0153 of 45166.1%★★★☆☆
202451.9172 of 45462.1%★★★☆☆
202353.3152 of 44866.1%★★★☆☆
202247.4191 of 43155.7%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202631.2271 of 43137.1%★★☆☆☆
202550.7162 of 43863.0%★★★☆☆
202446.2204 of 43553.1%★★★☆☆
202363.1108 of 43375.1%★★★★☆
202245.4204 of 43052.6%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202649.7165 of 43662.2%★★★☆☆
202553.3152 of 44265.6%★★★☆☆
202455.7151 of 43665.4%★★★☆☆
202351.8159 of 43663.5%★★★☆☆
202251.0170 of 42760.2%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankGeorgia percentileRating
202623.2259 of 33422.5%★☆☆☆☆
202538.7188 of 34144.9%★★☆☆☆
202435.0204 of 34641.0%★★☆☆☆
202335.4201 of 34341.4%★★☆☆☆
202229.6228 of 33932.7%★★☆☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
Female (2026)54th percentile~ school
Male (2026)53rd percentile~ school
White (2026)21st percentile-34 vs school
Middle school
Male (2026)62nd percentile~ school
Female (2026)55th percentile-5 vs school
White (2026)27th percentile-33 vs school
High school
Male (2026)62nd percentile+11 vs school
Female (2026)37th percentile-14 vs school
White (2026)22nd percentile-29 vs school
By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?
Social Studies55%+15 vs state
Biology55%+8 vs state
United States History42%+3 vs state
Mathematics42%-4 vs state
Science34%-4 vs state
Algebra I11%-37 vs state

1.6
5 ratings · 5 written reviews
5★0
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3★0
2★0
1★4
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What people are saying
by a parent
Friday, August 20, 2021

Open Quote The school is steadily growing, and my sons like the different ways they can learn. I personally haven't had any issues voicing my concerns when needed, and the paddling is an option ( which we opt out of). Close Quote


by a citizen
Thursday, September 13, 2018

Open Quote Instead of heeding all scientific evidence that violence toward children is detrimental to their social & emotional well-being, this school threatens to paddle children for misbehaving. In 2018. I hate to think what that says about how/what they teach (and what kind of adults will be living in Hephzibah when these kids are grown). :( Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Open Quote This school is ABUSIVE to children by HITTING THEM Close Quote


by a citizen
Thursday, May 24, 2018

Open Quote This school allows its teachers to pick on stufmdents and bully them. Then the administration actually makes fun of parents who try to Correct the situation. God forbid a parent attempt to better the school for all students. Shame on you. Shame on your school. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, May 24, 2018

Open Quote UNACCREDITED school, which means 9th grade classes won't count toward a diploma or college. Administration and board not only allow some teachers to bully, they bully parents who ask questions. 1/3 -1/2 of the 8th grade class is failing, and will not be able to move on to high school. Close Quote




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Frequently Asked Questions about Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics

Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics ranks 544th of 1222 Georgia alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics are 76% White, 12% African American, 6% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,015 students attended Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics.

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Latest Georgia data All new data »
2025–26 attendance dataAug 6, 2026
2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresAug 6, 2026
2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)Aug 6, 2026
2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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