Brooks County High School

Brooks County High School in Quitman, GA, serves approximately 542 students in grades 6-12 as part of the Brooks County district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most impressive thing about this school is its graduation rate. At 97.6% for 2024-2025, it dramatically outpaces the state average of 87.2% and has stayed above 92% for five straight years. That's a remarkable achievement for a school with high poverty levels. However, test scores tell a different story. In the most recent data, only 21.9% of students were proficient in Algebra I (state: 48.1%) and just 11.4% in U.S. History (state: 38.5%). Biology is a clear bright spot—42.8% proficiency nearly matches the state average of 47.2% and is a huge jump from 16.5% the year before. The school also spends generously at $16,921 per student, about 50% more than nearby Valdosta High School ($11,375) and Lowndes High School ($10,842), yet its scores are comparable to Valdosta and well below Lowndes. Chronic absenteeism has improved from 38.8% to 25.6% over three years, but remains above the state's 17.7% and is notably higher than the district's 16.6%.

Compared to Delta Innovative School, the district's other high school, Brooks County looks strong—Delta shows just 3% proficiency in Algebra I and 0% in several subjects. The school's overall state ranking jumped from the 11th percentile to the 32nd percentile in one year, suggesting positive momentum. While test scores remain volatile from year to year, the combination of exceptional graduation rates, improving Biology performance, and a favorable 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio makes this a school that clearly prioritizes getting students across the finish line, even if academic mastery in some subjects still lags state averages.