School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low

School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, GA, is an alternative school serving 605 students in grades PK-12 within the Savannah-Chatham County district, where 85% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school has shown meaningful progress over the past few years, even though it still faces significant challenges. Chronic absenteeism has dropped from 38.2% in 2021-2022 to 24.4% in 2025-2026—a 36% relative improvement—though it remains well above the district average of 16.6% and state average of 17.7%. Academically, math proficiency in grades 3-5 ranges from 19.3% to 23.9%, which trails district rates (33.2% to 42.6%) and state rates (44.1% to 50.1%). However, there are encouraging signs of momentum: 3rd grade math proficiency nearly doubled from 10.9% to 20%, and 5th grade math more than tripled from 7.8% to 23.9% between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. Fifth-grade science also improved dramatically, jumping from 13% to 25.3%. The school invests heavily in its students, spending $19,527 per pupil with a favorable 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio—a level of investment typical for alternative schools serving high-needs populations.

Compared to nearby alternatives, this school serves a larger and more diverse population. The Savannah-Chatham E-Learning Academy, located just 2.68 miles away, has much lower chronic absenteeism (8.7%) and outperforms in 5th grade math (31.3% vs. 23.9%) and science (43.8% vs. 25.3%), though its secondary students struggle significantly on end-of-course exams. Meanwhile, Union High School of Savannah Coastal Harbor Treatment Center serves just 69 students with a 9.8:1 ratio and a 0% absenteeism rate, reflecting its residential treatment nature. While test scores remain below district and state averages, the simultaneous improvements in attendance, academics, and economic indicators suggest systemic changes are taking hold at Juliette Gordon Low—a hopeful sign for a school serving a vulnerable population.