Swainsboro High School

Swainsboro High School serves approximately 796 students in grades 9-12 in the Emanuel County district, a rural area where nearly all students (97.7%) qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has climbed from a 1-star rating in 2021-2022 to a 2-star rating (44th percentile statewide) for 2025-2026, showing meaningful progress even while serving one of the most economically challenged student populations in the region.

The most encouraging news is in math. Algebra I proficiency has skyrocketed from just 15.7% in 2022-2023 to 45.9% in 2025-2026—now nearly matching the state average (48.1%) and actually beating the district (42.6%). This is a remarkable turnaround that suggests targeted interventions are working. Graduation rates have also improved steadily, rising from 77.9% to 86.2%, now close to the state average of 87.2%. However, challenges remain in other subjects. Biology proficiency (34.8%) trails the state (47.2%), and American Literature has stayed flat around 24-26%, well below the state's 40%. U.S. History dropped sharply from 43.4% to 30.8% in one year, though the school had outperformed the state in that subject for two years prior. Chronic absenteeism (22.1%) remains a concern, though it has improved from nearly 30% a few years ago.

Compared to Emanuel County Institute (ECI), the district's other high school, Swainsboro shows a mixed picture. ECI ranks higher overall (67th percentile vs. 44th), graduates more students (93.3% vs. 86.2%), and has far lower chronic absenteeism (13.9% vs. 22.1%). But Swainsboro actually leads ECI in Algebra I (45.9% vs. 34.9%). Notably, Hispanic students at Swainsboro rank in the 82nd percentile statewide—a standout strength—while White and Special Education students rank in the 27th and 20th percentiles, respectively. The school spends slightly less per student ($12,904) than ECI ($13,858), despite serving a much more economically disadvantaged population. For parents, the key takeaway is that Swainsboro is making real gains in math and graduation, but attendance and reading proficiency remain areas needing attention.