Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy

Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy in Douglas, GA, is a small, specialized high school serving 215 students in grades 9–12 within the Coffee County district, and it has earned a 4-star rating by climbing from the bottom 9th percentile a decade ago to the 80th percentile today.

The most striking difference between Wiregrass and nearby schools is its Algebra I performance. In the most recent school year, 71% of Wiregrass students scored proficient or above on the state End-of-Course test, compared to just 30.5% for the district and 48.1% statewide. This is a dramatic contrast with Coffee County High School, which reported a 0% proficiency rate on the same test, while Atkinson County High School posted 48.6%. Wiregrass also stands out for its graduation rate of 98.2%, well above the district’s 92.5% and the state’s 87.2%, and its chronic absenteeism rate of just 11.4%—nearly three times lower than Coffee County High School’s 31.9%. The school is especially strong for female students, ranking in the 86th percentile statewide for their performance.

Wiregrass achieves these results while spending less per student ($12,466) than either Coffee County High School ($14,027) or Atkinson County High School ($15,170), suggesting an efficient use of resources focused on career and technical pathways. One area for growth is Biology, where 51.5% of students are proficient—above the state average of 47.2% but a smaller advantage than in math. Overall, this academy model appears to be highly effective at keeping students engaged, on track, and graduating, making it a standout option for families in the Douglas area.