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Test scores delayed: 2026 rankings for Georgia do not yet include English Language Arts scores, which will not be released by the Georgia Department of Education until winter 2026.

McDonough High School

Public Grades 9-12

363^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 457 Georgia High Schools

Better than 21% of Georgia high schools

Summary

McDonough High School in McDonough, GA, serves about 1,359 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Henry County School District. The school has faced significant challenges in recent years, ranking in the bottom fifth of Georgia high schools, though it has shown some improvement from the previous year. With 72.4% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a predominantly low-income population, and per-student spending has risen to $12,752—comparable to several higher-performing schools in the district.

The most pressing issue at McDonough is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 31.2%—nearly double the district average of 19.6% and well above the state rate of 17.7%. While this is a major improvement from 45.9% three years ago, it remains the highest among nearby traditional high schools, including Eagle's Landing High School (30.7%) and Dutchtown High (28.9%). Test scores reflect these struggles: Algebra I proficiency is 18.6%, Biology 27.2%, and US History 22.4%—all well below district and state averages. The graduation rate of 84.4% also trails the district (89.8%) and state (87.2%), and it declined from the prior year. Notably, special education students rank in the bottom 8th percentile statewide, a critical area of concern.

There are some encouraging signs. Algebra I proficiency has more than doubled since 2022-2023, rising from 8.2% to 18.6%, and Hispanic students rank in the 55th percentile statewide—a relative bright spot. However, the contrast with nearby schools is stark: Union Grove High, just 4.6 miles away, has a 94.3% graduation rate and only 9.7% chronic absenteeism, while Ola High School achieves 60.7% Algebra I proficiency. These comparisons suggest that school-level strategies—especially around attendance and targeted support—could make a meaningful difference for McDonough students moving forward.

1,359

Students ?

18.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,752

Per pupil spending ?

72.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

155 Postmaster Dr
McDonough, GA 30253

(470) 615-3450

District: Henry County

Feeder schools for McDonough High School:

Elementary:	Walnut Creek Elementary
Middle:	McDonough Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

82.4%

Hispanic:

8.5%

Two or more races:

4.5%

See top rated Georgia high schools

Compare McDonough High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 14th percentile in 2022 → 21st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 21st (2026) from a 14th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (23% vs 45% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (31% vs 18% Georgia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school23%

District avg35%

Georgia avg45%

363^rd of 457

Georgia public high schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 28% (2016) to bottom 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 12High Schools in the Henry County

142^nd of 202Henry County among Georgia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	19.2	363 of 457	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.8	384 of 451	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.0	373 of 454	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.7	381 of 448	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.8	372 of 431	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.5	302 of 410	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.3	369 of 438	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.4	355 of 428	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.5	347 of 420	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.2	307 of 426	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	26.4	317 of 435	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	34.1	309 of 425	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	41.6	271 of 425	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.6	228 of 396	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	35.2	305 of 402	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	40.7	253 of 384	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	38.7	265 of 372	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	42.1	239 of 370	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	36.7	259 of 358	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	45.5	198 of 335	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	28.4	257 of 377	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.6	286 of 391	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.6	274 of 382	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.4	282 of 384	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.6	256 of 372	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	22.9	325 of 431	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.3	368 of 438	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.9	343 of 435	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.1	358 of 433	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.7	356 of 430	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	46.6	136 of 299	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	7.9	303 of 312	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	33.5	204 of 315	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	19.6	268 of 308	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.7	211 of 295	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	14.8	382 of 436	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	13.0	398 of 442	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.1	383 of 436	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.0	392 of 436	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.9	362 of 427	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2024	35.1	105 of 158	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	3.8	141 of 141	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	16.9	313 of 339	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	25.0	278 of 347	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.2	256 of 344	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.9	298 of 343	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.7	302 of 331	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2022	5.8	329 of 339	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2026)55th percentile+34 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)34th percentile+16 vs school

African American (2026)32nd percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)25th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)12th percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2026)8th percentile-13 vs school

White (2022)3rd percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Biology27%-20 vs state

United States History22%-16 vs state

Algebra I19%-29 vs state

4.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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4★0

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What people are saying

by a student
Saturday, January 27, 2018

This school is an awesome school. Many people say that it is a horrible school that you should not take your child to but this school really does care for your child's well being and education. The teachers refuse to allow your child to fall behind and they make sure that your child understands everything that was taught. People hold low expectation for this school but it may surprise you once you enter it. Close Quote

by a student
Thursday, November 8, 2012

When you say Henry County High most people flinch at the sound. This school isn't really that bad, its the only school in the county to have colleges on campus. Just because some of the many students don't care about their education doesn't mean you should label the entire school as a whole. I'm not going to lie some of this school's students could have more responsibility about their education but there are many students who just ignore them and achieve high goals here. This school has the potential to be one of if not the best schools/schools in the county. All it takes is for teachers to write up ceartin students and get them out of here and into an alternative school which they belong. Close Quote

Schools Near McDonough High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2026)	Milestones Assessment Biology (2026)	Milestones Assessment United States History (2026)	Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2026)			Milestones Assessment Science (2026)	Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2026)	Milestones Assessment HS Physical Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Biology End of Course	Milestones Assessment United States History End of Course	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment HS Physical Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McDonough High School	Public	9-12	155 Postmaster Dr	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(470) 615-3450	1,359	74	18.2	72.4%	40 (2.9%)	1,120 (82.4%)	116 (8.5%)	19 (1.4%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	61 (4.5%)	19.2	363^rd of 457 public high schools	20.6%		15.8	384^th of 451 public high schools	14.9%	21	18.6	27.2	22.4							$12,752	$747	$12,005
Impact Academy High School	Public	9-12	45 Lemon Street	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(770) 954-3744	449	27	16.5	49.0%	99 (22.0%)	269 (59.9%)	41 (9.1%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (7.3%)	21.5	351^st of 457 public high schools	23.2%					(n/a)	24.8	29.4	22.6
EXCEL Academy	Public	6-12	330 Tomlinson St	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 957-4101	213	24	8.9	66.7%	22 (10.3%)	155 (72.8%)	22 (10.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (6.1%)	8.3	423^rd of 457 public high schools	7.4%		4.7	440^th of 451 public high schools	2.4%	17	11.3	11.3	12.8	0.0	8.8	9.2	4.3	5.3
Union Grove High	Public	9-12	120 E Lake Rd	McDonough	30252	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(678) 583-8502	1,622	86	18.8	35.8%	358 (22.1%)	895 (55.2%)	155 (9.6%)	112 (6.9%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	99 (6.1%)	55.7	135^th of 457 public high schools	70.5%		71	82^nd of 451 public high schools	81.8%	53	34.6	53.4	49.8							$12,504	$406	$12,097
Ola High School	Public	9-12	357 N Ola Rd	McDonough	30252	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(770) 288-3222	1,586	85	18.7	38.8%	715 (45.1%)	589 (37.1%)	159 (10.0%)	23 (1.5%)	6 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (5.9%)	66.2	84^th of 457 public high schools	81.6%		66.4	95^th of 451 public high schools	78.9%	11	60.7	58.6	45.9							$13,032	$403	$12,629
Eagle's Landing High School	Public	9-12	301 Tunis Rd	McDonough	30253	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(770) 954-9515	1,578	77	20.5	59.8%	61 (3.9%)	1,195 (75.7%)	195 (12.4%)	56 (3.5%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	67 (4.2%)	13.5	399^th of 457 public high schools	12.7%		19.6	360^th of 451 public high schools	20.2%	39	16.2	21.9	16.6							$12,131	$402	$11,728
Luella High School	Public	9-12	603 Walker Dr	Locust Grove	30248	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(770) 898-9822	1,236	68	18.3	58.4%	60 (4.9%)	948 (76.7%)	133 (10.8%)	26 (2.1%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	63 (5.1%)	21.8	349^th of 457 public high schools	23.6%		18.7	366^th of 451 public high schools	18.8%	17	17.0	32.3	24.9							$12,495	$403	$12,093
Locust Grove High	Public	9-12	3275 S Ola Rd	Locust Grove	30248	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(770) 898-1452	1,572	89	17.7	56.4%	457 (29.1%)	846 (53.8%)	166 (10.6%)	10 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	89 (5.7%)	26	314^th of 457 public high schools	31.3%		24	338^th of 451 public high schools	25.1%	24	18.8	34.9	29.6							$12,687	$405	$12,282
Dutchtown High	Public	9-12	149 Mitchell Rd	Hampton	30228	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(770) 515-7510	1,821	101	18.0	52.1%	38 (2.1%)	1,413 (77.6%)	174 (9.6%)	121 (6.6%)	4 (0.2%)	5 (0.3%)	66 (3.6%)	36.2	251^st of 457 public high schools	45.1%		46.6	187^th of 451 public high schools	58.5%	64	39.2	31.9	39.5							$12,356	$404	$11,952
Hampton High School	Public	9-12	795 Hampton Locust Grove Rd	Hampton	30228	Henry County	Henry County	No	No	No	No	(770) 707-2130	1,165	61	19.0	63.5%	164 (14.1%)	755 (64.8%)	187 (16.1%)	13 (1.1%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (3.5%)	49.1	171^st of 457 public high schools	62.6%		34.7	270^th of 451 public high schools	40.1%	99	32.9	44.7	50.0							$12,611	$402	$12,208

Frequently Asked Questions about McDonough High School

What is the racial makeup of McDonough High School?

Students at McDonough High School are 82% African American, 9% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% White, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into McDonough High School?

McDonough High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Walnut Creek Elementary
Middle : McDonough Middle School

Is McDonough High School a good school?

McDonough High School ranks in the bottom 20.6% of Georgia high schools.

How many students attend McDonough High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,359 students attended McDonough High School.

What district is McDonough High School in?

Henry County

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)Aug 6, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026

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.