Miller County High School

Miller County High School in Colquitt, GA, serves approximately 236 students in grades 9-12 and has made a remarkable leap in statewide rankings—moving from the 28th percentile to the 51st percentile this year, its best overall performance in at least a decade. The school now holds a 3-star rating, up from 1-star, and maintains a strong 89.9% graduation rate that exceeds the state average of 87.2%. With a favorable 10.1:1 student-teacher ratio and the highest per-student spending in the region at $18,379, the school is investing heavily in its students' success.

The most striking improvement is in Biology. Proficiency soared from just 8.8% last year to 66.1% this year—now nearly 19 points above the state average and far outpacing nearby Early County High School (25.6%) and Seminole County Middle/High School (45.8%). However, the school shows a "tale of two subjects": Algebra I proficiency sits at just 18.2% and U.S. History at 20%, both well below state averages. Chronic absenteeism has been cut in half—from 37.1% to 18.6%—though it still slightly exceeds the state average of 17.7% and remains higher than Seminole County's impressive 12.6% rate.

While the overall trajectory is positive, the school faces notable equity challenges. Female students rank in the 67th percentile statewide, while male students rank in the 35th percentile—a 32-point gap. Additionally, there is a significant achievement gap between student subgroups that the school will need to address. Given the small student body, year-to-year swings can be dramatic, so sustained improvement over multiple years will be key to confirming these gains are structural rather than cohort-driven. Still, with strong graduation rates, dramatically better science scores, and reduced absenteeism, Miller County appears to be a school on a genuine upward climb.