Walton High School

Summary:

Walton High School is a public charter high school located in Marietta, Georgia, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,646 students. It is part of the Cobb County School District, which is ranked 52 out of 203 districts in Georgia and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Walton High School has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in Georgia, ranking 7th out of 458 schools in the state for the 2023-2024 school year and receiving a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Walton High School's academic performance is exceptional, consistently outperforming the Cobb County and Georgia state averages on the Milestones Assessments. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, Walton had 89.9% of students proficient or better in American Literature and Composition, compared to 55.6% in Cobb County and 42% statewide. The school also maintains an exceptionally high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 95.1% to 97.5% over the past five years, significantly higher than the state and district averages. Additionally, Walton High School has a very low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 3.36% to 3.78% over the past three years, suggesting it serves a relatively affluent student population.

Walton High School's academic success is particularly noteworthy when compared to nearby schools. For instance, its 2023-2024 proficiency rates in American Literature and Composition (89.9%) are nearly double the rates of Sprayberry High School (52%) and Wheeler High School (57.8%). This contrast is further highlighted by the higher rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at these nearby schools, such as Sprayberry High School (35.99%) and Wheeler High School (38.78%), compared to Walton's low rate of 3.78%. Despite its relatively lower per-student spending compared to some nearby schools, Walton High School's exceptional performance suggests it is effectively utilizing its resources to support student success.


Detail:

Public, Charter 9-12

 1590 Bill Murdock Rd
       Marietta, GA  30062


(770) 578-3225

District: Cobb County

SchoolDigger Rank:
7th of 458 Georgia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $7,955 Help


Feeder schools for Walton High School:

Elementary:    East Side Elementary School
    Mount Bethel Elementary School
    Sope Creek Elementary School
    Timber Ridge Elementary School
Middle:    Dickerson Middle School
    Dodgen Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  19.3 Help
Number of students:  2,646

Racial breakdown:

White:
60.9%
Asian:
22.1%
Hispanic:
7.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  3.8% Help


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 Compare Walton High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Walton High School ranks better than 98.5% of high schools in Georgia. It also ranks 2nd among 17 ranked high schools in the Cobb County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 94.49. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Walton High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Walton High School has the largest high school student body size in the Cobb County School District.  (See more...)
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Walton High School is $7,955. 13 high schools in the Cobb County School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Walton High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Walton High School 7th of 458 Georgia public high schools. (See Walton High School in the ranking list.)

Cobb County:

SchoolDigger ranks Cobb County 52nd of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Walton High School.

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Rank History for Walton High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools GA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 91.47 4th 335 98.8%
2007 92.08 5th 358 98.6%
2008 92.36 3rd 370 99.2%
2009 92.62 4th 372 98.9%
2010 86.67 21st 384 94.5%
2011 90.24 6th 402 98.5%
2012 90.04 8th 396 98.0%
2013 89.39 6th 425 98.6%
2014 87.43 10th 425 97.6%
2015 93.09 5th 435 98.9%
2016 85.48 23rd 426 94.6%
2017 94.35 6th 420 98.6%
2018 95.18 3rd 428 99.3%
2019 93.90 6th 438 98.6%
2021 92.51 6th 410 98.5%
2022 95.01 6th 429 98.6%
2023 94.64 5th 442 98.9%
2024 94.49 7th 458 98.5%
See the entire list of Georgia High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Georgia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Walton High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.1)
50%

0%

0%

8%

42%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, December 18, 2016

Open Quote Petition to remove Ms. Judith McNeil as Principal of Walton High School:
https://www.change.org/p/superintendent-chris-ragsdale-remove-judith-mcneil-as-principal-of-walton-high-school-marietta-ga-30062 Close Quote


by a parent
Saturday, October 8, 2016

Open Quote A detailed review is located at http://paddyrama.weebly.com/ Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Open Quote This school is a waste of tax payer money! The assistant principal for curriculum and the Math department are way over their heads. The assistant principal will often gloat about her GA Tech degree, but won't tell you about the other sub-par colleges she attended later! I had to withdraw my kid from this school because the Math department won't give partial credit. The kid who was a consistent 'A' student at Dickerson started failing in Math, 40's and 50's were all too common! Even the AP calculus exams give partial credit, but what is good for the college board is apparently not good enough for this school! In the 16 years that they have had this policy, their national rank has only gone lower, not higher. They will give you a boat load of crap about how it improves precision! We even talked to a recent GA Tech graduate. He mentioned that they do give partial credit at GA Tech, without which he said that he could not have graduated! If your kid is going thro' the same thing, fight the school. Have the kid take Math at Georgia Virtual School. They are allowed 1 course per semester online. The school will give you more crap about how bad GVA is. Granted that GVA is not for everyone, but ultimately if the kid can pass the AP calculus exam (from GVA or elsewhere), then that should be good enough for college. Their argument is that GA Tech knows that their grading is harsh. Granted that a lot of kids go to GA Tech from this school, but not all kids want to go to GA Tech. A 'C' in the transcript is a huge problem requiring a lot of explanation to schools outside of GA. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Open Quote Really a terrible school. I have 2 students there. Both in advanced classes; both good students. The clubs are very cliquey and leadership is passed down among friends. Parents are over involved and if you are not involved, your child will not be treated well. The students do well but that's primarily because of they are from educated and wealthy families. The teachers are underpaid so I don't feel comfortable complaining. There is student parking for seniors only. Most of the clubs and activities require driving at 3:30. Walton students get out early on most Wednesdays. Walton is designed with the assumption that a parent or nanny will be able to chauffeur their student. When I mentioned this to a school board member during Walton's registration, he told me he had the perfect solution for working mothers -- "they should quit their jobs." That says it all. If I had it to do over, I would buy a house in a different school district. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Open Quote Walton is a very challenging high school. There are numerous AP courses (32 last time I checked) available to students who want to be well prepared for college. This public high school is unlike most other schools, even in the immediate area. Since it is a charter school, the administration has more flexibility in class offerings, schedules and structure compared to other schools in the Cobb County District. The teachers and parents expect above average challenges and results, and most of the students deliver. A 4.0 will not get your student in the top 10% of his/her class. These students are motivated! It can be a pressure cooker. If your student needs a lot of nurturing and hand holding, this is probably not the school for him/her. Walton has high expectations in their extra circular activities, as well. Sports, fine arts, clubs, volunteering... everything is available to anybody that strives to be included. Under achievers and wall flowers can survive, but likely will not thrive at this school. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Open Quote If you want your children to be intellectually challenged, and well-prepared for college, this is the best high school and the best value available in the state of Georgia -- no private school tuition, reasonable property taxes, and an education equal or superior to any of the state's private schools. If you want your children to be able to coast along, graduate with decent grades, get into college, and return home after a couple of semesters due to inadequate preparation and poor study habits, Walton is not a good choice.

The teachers and facilities are excellent; the academic program is geared to be as rigorous as each student can and is willing to handle, with a full array of AP courses for those who choose that path; the athletic programs are broad, deep and very competitive; the other after-school offerings are as diverse as the students' interests. Graduates frequently report that they find college no more demanding, and in many cases easier, than their high school experience at Walton. It has been a Charter School for decades, and is routinely listed among the best public schools in the U.S. Close Quote


by a student
Sunday, February 19, 2012

Open Quote I loved this school. I had the best time. It was certainly challenging, but it was well worth it. I had an easier time in college than my peers. I made my closest friends here. I loved almost all the teachers. Close Quote


by a parent
Saturday, September 24, 2011

Open Quote Extremely stressful environment...all the school cares about is image and getting the best scores. Nothing about well-being, being a good person or just having fun high school memories to look back on.. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Walton High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2054 2054
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1940 1940
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2038 2038
1993 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1995 1995
1994 1884 56 74 23 0 n/a n/a 0 2037
1995 1924 58 108 23 0 n/a n/a 0 2113
1996 1924 58 108 23 0 n/a n/a 0 2113
1997 1959 61 111 24 0 n/a n/a 0 2155
1998 1971 59 127 32 0 n/a n/a 0 2189
1999 2035 69 145 32 1 n/a n/a 0 2282
2000 2096 79 149 38 1 n/a n/a 0 2363
2001 2047 82 177 37 1 n/a n/a 0 2344
2002 2208 87 224 44 2 n/a n/a 0 2565
2003 2208 87 224 44 2 n/a n/a 0 2565
2004 2126 76 254 34 2 n/a n/a 0 2492
2005 2124 91 299 42 2 n/a n/a 37 2595
2006 2069 89 340 53 1 n/a n/a 51 2603
2007 2040 104 351 55 1 n/a n/a 57 2608
2008 2016 123 357 61 0 n/a n/a 72 2629
2009 1968 125 381 81 0 n/a n/a 77 2632
2010 1953 153 388 95 2 5 0 0 2596
2011 1960 169 394 91 4 2 56 0 2676
2012 1897 174 415 95 7 1 47 0 2636
2013 1867 184 418 106 4 2 55 0 2636
2014 1903 189 444 123 3 2 68 0 2732
2015 1870 169 451 119 2 1 62 0 2674
2016 1856 168 489 136 4 1 56 0 2710
2017 1830 165 502 134 3 2 57 0 2693
2018 1802 172 508 143 3 2 61 0 2691
2019 1746 163 548 161 3 2 62 0 2685
2020 1730 159 530 159 2 3 72 0 2655
2021 1737 152 550 181 2 3 84 0 2709
2022 1667 140 578 200 4 2 98 0 2689
2023 1611 142 586 209 2 2 94 0 2646

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Walton High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 2054 115.0 17.8 0
1991 1940 106.0 18.3 0.3
1992 2038 103.0 19.7 0.1
1993 1995 100.0 20.0 0.1
1994 2037 105.5 19.3 0.6
1995 2113 113.0 18.7 0.4
1996 2113 113.0 18.7 0.4
1997 2155 110.5 19.5 0.5
1998 2189 116.9 18.7 0.5
1999 2282 125.4 18.2 0.4
2000 2363 126.4 18.7 0.2
2001 2344 131.8 17.8 0.3
2002 2565 142.4 18.0 1
2003 2565 142.4 18.0 1
2004 2492 143.6 17.4 1.6
2005 2595 141.9 18.3 2.1
2006 2603 141.4 18.4 3.1
2007 2608 147.6 17.7 2.4
2008 2629 151.9 17.3 2.5
2009 2632 156.4 16.8 3.2
2010 2596 153.9 16.8 4.4
2011 2676 143.5 18.6 5.1
2012 2636 144.5 18.2 6.6
2013 2636 137.3 19.1 6.7
2014 2732 135.4 20.1 6
2015 2674 139.0 19.2 5.2
2016 2710 138.0 19.6 4.2
2017 2693 139.5 19.3 4.2
2018 2691 137.2 19.6 4
2019 2685 139.7 19.2 3.6
2020 2655 140.3 18.9 3.4
2021 2709 138.1 19.6 3.4
2022 2689 134.1 20.0 n/a
2023 2646 137.0 19.3 3.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Walton High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 2054 115.0 17.8 0
1991 1940 106.0 18.3 0.3
1992 2038 103.0 19.7 0.1
1993 1995 100.0 20.0 0.1
1994 2037 105.5 19.3 0.6
1995 2113 113.0 18.7 0.4
1996 2113 113.0 18.7 0.4
1997 2155 110.5 19.5 0.5
1998 2189 116.9 18.7 0.5
1999 2282 125.4 18.2 0.4
2000 2363 126.4 18.7 0.2
2001 2344 131.8 17.8 0.3
2002 2565 142.4 18.0 1
2003 2565 142.4 18.0 1
2004 2492 143.6 17.4 1.6
2005 2595 141.9 18.3 2.1
2006 2603 141.4 18.4 3.1
2007 2608 147.6 17.7 2.4
2008 2629 151.9 17.3 2.5
2009 2632 156.4 16.8 3.2
2010 2596 153.9 16.8 4.4
2011 2676 143.5 18.6 5.1
2012 2636 144.5 18.2 6.6
2013 2636 137.3 19.1 6.7
2014 2732 135.4 20.1 6
2015 2674 139.0 19.2 5.2
2016 2710 138.0 19.6 4.2
2017 2693 139.5 19.3 4.2
2018 2691 137.2 19.6 4
2019 2685 139.7 19.2 3.6
2020 2655 140.3 18.9 3.4
2021 2709 138.1 19.6 3.4
2022 2689 134.1 20.0 n/a
2023 2646 137.0 19.3 3.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Walton High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017 $175 (2.4%) $7,128 (97.6%) $7,303
2018 $235 (3.0%) $7,678 (97.0%) $7,914
2019 $243 (3.1%) $7,712 (96.9%) $7,955

Data source: Georgia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Walton High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 6th of 438 High schoolsRanks 5th of 442 High schools
 0.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Walton High School)89.784.3
 5.4%
   End of Course American Literature and Composition (Cobb County)63.450.6
 12.8%
   End of Course American Literature and Composition (Georgia)47.338.9
 8.4%
End of Course Algebra I (Walton High School)82.669.8
 12.8%
   End of Course Algebra I (Cobb County)54.246.6
 7.6%
   End of Course Algebra I (Georgia)41.135.8
 5.3%
End of Course Biology (Walton High School)91.189.2
 1.9%
   End of Course Biology (Cobb County)66.959.7
 7.2%
   End of Course Biology (Georgia)4945.5
 3.5%
End of Course United States History (Walton High School)90.383.2
 7.1%
   End of Course United States History (Cobb County)71.154.5
 16.6%
   End of Course United States History (Georgia)48.337.1
 11.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students26852646
 1.5%
African American163142
 12.9%
American Indian32
 33.3%
Asian548586
 6.9%
Hispanic161209
 29.8%
Pacific Islander22
White17461611
 7.7%
Two or More Races6294
 51.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients3.6%3.8%
 0.2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Walton High School

Students at Walton High School are 61% White, 22% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 5% African American, 4% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,646 students attended Walton High School.

Yes! Walton High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 7th of 458 Georgia high schools.


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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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