Jenkins County High School

Jenkins County High School in Millen, GA, is a small rural high school serving about 309 students in grades 9–12, and it has recently shown some of the most dramatic academic gains in the region. The school has climbed from a 1-star rating to a 3-star rating over the past several years, and in 2025–2026 it reached its best statewide ranking in a decade (61st percentile). Most notably, Algebra I proficiency nearly doubled in a single year, jumping from 29.3% to 55.5%—now above the state average of 48.1%. Biology also improved significantly, rising from 23.0% to 38.2%, though it still trails the state’s 47.2%. U.S. History has been a consistent bright spot, with the school outperforming the state average for three straight years.

What makes these gains especially noteworthy is the student body’s high economic need—99.35% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the highest among nearby schools. Despite this, the school now outperforms its own Jenkins County district by wide margins in every tested subject (e.g., 55.5% vs. 21.8% in Algebra I). The school also serves its male and African American students particularly well, with both subgroups earning 3-star ratings. A low 10:1 student-teacher ratio and above-average per-student spending ($16,772) suggest a strong investment in individualized instruction. Chronic absenteeism, while above the state average (25.8% vs. 17.7%), is dramatically better than the district’s 44.3%—a sign of a stronger attendance culture at the high school level.

Compared to nearby schools, the picture is mixed. Jenkins County High now edges out Screven County High School in Algebra I (55.5% vs. 50.0%) and matches Portal Middle/High School (55.5% vs. 55.3%), while outperforming Burke County High School in nearly every academic metric. However, the graduation rate of 82.9% remains below the state average (87.2%) and trails all three nearby schools. The year-over-year test score swings are large, so sustained improvement over multiple years will be key to confirming this upward trend is durable rather than a one-year spike.