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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.

Hardaway High School

Public Grades 9-12

347^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 457 Georgia High Schools

Better than 24% of Georgia high schools

Summary

Hardaway High School is a comprehensive public high school in Columbus, GA, serving 1,067 students in grades 9-12 within the Muscogee County School District, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Hardaway presents an unusual academic profile—a clear strength in science paired with challenges in other subjects. In the most recent testing, 43.9% of Hardaway students scored proficient in Biology, nearly double the rate from the previous year and dramatically higher than nearby comprehensive high schools like Shaw High School (23.5%), Carver High School (15.6%), and Spencer High School (13.4%). This performance approaches the state average of 47.2%, a remarkable achievement given the school's high poverty rate. However, Algebra I proficiency remains a persistent weakness at 26.2%, well below the district average of 35.7% and state average of 48.1%, though it has improved significantly from 13.7% the prior year. The gap between Biology and U.S. History proficiency (16.7%) suggests the science department may have developed effective strategies that could be applied elsewhere.

Beyond test scores, Hardaway shows encouraging trends in several key areas. The graduation rate of 94.6% exceeds the state average of 87.2% and has improved for five consecutive years. Chronic absenteeism, while still high at 30.8%, has declined steadily from 37.6% over four years and is far better than nearby Spencer High School (50.1%) and Jordan Vocational High School (41.5%). The contrast with Columbus High School, located just 1.55 miles away, highlights the impact of socioeconomic factors—Columbus serves a student body with only 20.67% free/reduced lunch eligibility and posts near-perfect proficiency rates, while Hardaway serves 100% economically disadvantaged students. Hardaway spends $13,596 per student and maintains a favorable 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio, suggesting resources alone aren't the primary driver of outcomes. The school's path forward likely involves replicating its Biology success in other subjects while continuing to address absenteeism.

1,067

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,596

Per pupil spending ?

36.3%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2024-25)

2901 College Dr
Columbus, GA 31906

(706) 748-2766

District: Muscogee County

Feeder schools for Hardaway High School:

Elementary:	Clubview Elementary School
	Gentian Elementary School
	Reese Road Leadership Academy
	Rigdon Road Elementary School
Middle:	Midland Middle School
	Richards Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

66.8%

White:

13.6%

Hispanic:

10.8%

See top rated Georgia high schools

Compare Hardaway High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 57th percentile in 2016 → 24th in 2026

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Georgia average (87%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (27% vs 45% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school27%

District avg33%

Georgia avg45%

347^th of 457

Georgia public high schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 33 pts since 2016

From top 43% (2016) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 9High Schools in the Muscogee County

149^th of 202Muscogee 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	22.0	347 of 457	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.2	350 of 451	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.3	273 of 454	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.4	297 of 448	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	20.1	338 of 431	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.3	337 of 410	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.0	274 of 438	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.2	271 of 428	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	32.2	257 of 420	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.6	184 of 426	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	45.5	181 of 435	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	55.9	154 of 425	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	57.3	153 of 425	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	48.9	210 of 396	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	46.4	245 of 402	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	50.4	198 of 384	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	54.4	180 of 372	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	64.1	114 of 370	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	64.2	109 of 358	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	48.8	184 of 335	45.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	25.4	280 of 377	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.7	322 of 391	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	45.6	169 of 382	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.6	221 of 384	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.5	274 of 372	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	24.9	314 of 431	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.4	349 of 438	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.6	264 of 435	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.6	278 of 433	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.5	329 of 430	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2025	45.9	130 of 312	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.1	129 of 315	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.8	175 of 308	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.8	106 of 295	64.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	19.6	344 of 436	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.5	344 of 442	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.1	275 of 436	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.9	326 of 436	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.8	349 of 427	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2025	13.6	137 of 149	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.7	149 of 158	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.6	132 of 141	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.7	120 of 126	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	28.5	253 of 339	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.6	248 of 347	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.8	172 of 344	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	27.1	262 of 343	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.6	298 of 331	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	22.3	264 of 334	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.9	186 of 341	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.6	215 of 346	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.0	203 of 343	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	13.1	310 of 339	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

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 (2025)58th percentile+36 vs school

Female (2026)27th percentile+3 vs school

African American (2026)26th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)25th percentile~ school

Male (2026)21st percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)21st percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)8th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Biology44%-3 vs state

Algebra I26%-22 vs state

United States History17%-22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Hardaway 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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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
Hardaway High School	Public	9-12	2901 College Dr	Columbus	31906	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 748-2766	1,067	80	13.3	36.3%	145 (13.6%)	713 (66.8%)	115 (10.8%)	10 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	81 (7.6%)	22	347^th of 457 public high schools	24.1%		21.2	350^th of 451 public high schools	22.4%	3	26.2	43.9	16.7							$13,596	$1,438	$12,158
Jordan Vocational High School	Public	9-12	3200 Howard Ave	Columbus	31904	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 748-2819	1,040	82	12.6	43.8%	205 (19.7%)	501 (48.2%)	242 (23.3%)	10 (1.0%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	78 (7.5%)	14.6	394^th of 457 public high schools	13.8%		13	405^th of 451 public high schools	10.2%	11	24.7	15.4	20.9							$13,915	$1,655	$12,260
Columbus High School	Public	9-12	1700 Cherokee Ave	Columbus	31906	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 748-2534	1,161	61	19.0	9.4%	478 (41.2%)	253 (21.8%)	150 (12.9%)	189 (16.3%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (7.6%)	95.6	2^nd of 457 public high schools	99.6%		96.2	3^rd of 451 public high schools	99.3%	1	98.6	88.0	87.6							$11,583	$528	$11,055
Rainey McCullers School of the Arts	Public	6-12	1700 Midtown Dr	Columbus	31906	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 748-3304	420	33	12.7	17.6%	143 (34.0%)	170 (40.5%)	57 (13.6%)	10 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (9.3%)	83.7	29^th of 457 public high schools	93.7%		79.4	50^th of 451 public high schools	88.9%	21	76.3	70.8	72.1	57.5	63.5	75.1	45.4	66.7	65.4	$15,042	$525	$14,518
Carver High School	Public	9-12	3100 8th St	Columbus	31906	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 748-2499	887	62	14.4	52.5%	19 (2.1%)	793 (89.4%)	40 (4.5%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	32 (3.6%)	10.5	409^th of 457 public high schools	10.5%		12.2	410^th of 451 public high schools	9.1%	1	14.9	15.6	14.8							$12,725	$1,386	$11,339
Kendrick High School	Public	9-12	6015 Georgetown Dr	Columbus	31907	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 565-2960	840	56	14.9	46.0%	17 (2.0%)	726 (86.4%)	46 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (5.8%)	7	431^st of 457 public high schools	5.7%		11	414^th of 451 public high schools	8.2%	17	7.4	8.3	12.0							$12,569	$1,383	$11,186
Spencer High School	Public	9-12	1000 Fort Benning Rd	Columbus	31903	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 683-8701	1,016	64	15.8	49.1%	26 (2.6%)	728 (71.7%)	206 (20.3%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	6 (0.6%)	46 (4.5%)	9.7	414^th of 457 public high schools	9.4%		10.5	416^th of 451 public high schools	7.8%	2	10.9	13.4	16.1							$12,388	$1,504	$10,884
Shaw High School	Public	9-12	7579 Raider Way	Columbus	31909	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 569-3638	1,162	80	14.5	24.9%	165 (14.2%)	655 (56.4%)	170 (14.6%)	41 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.6%)	124 (10.7%)	15.1	392^nd of 457 public high schools	14.2%		24.1	336^th of 451 public high schools	25.5%	56	29.9	23.5	3.8							$12,851	$899	$11,952
Northside High School	Public	9-12	2002 American Way	Columbus	31909	Muscogee County	Muscogee County	No	No	No	No	(706) 748-2920	1,405	90	15.5	13.5%	558 (39.7%)	508 (36.2%)	182 (13.0%)	43 (3.1%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	110 (7.8%)	50.5	169^th of 457 public high schools	63.0%		59.2	123^rd of 451 public high schools	72.7%	46	41.2	57.8	32.5							$12,035	$503	$11,532
Muscogee Youth Development Campus	Public	5-12	7700 Chattsworth Rd	Midland	31820	Muscogee County	Department of Juvenile Justice	No	No	No	Yes	(706) 569-2863	0	1	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Hardaway High School

Is Hardaway High School a good school?

Hardaway High School ranks in the bottom 24.1% of Georgia high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Hardaway High School?

Students at Hardaway High School are 67% African American, 14% White, 11% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Hardaway High School?

Hardaway High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Clubview Elementary School
Elementary : Gentian Elementary School
Elementary : Reese Road Leadership Academy
Elementary : Rigdon Road Elementary School
Middle : Midland Middle School
Middle : Richards Middle School

What district is Hardaway High School in?

Muscogee County

How many students attend Hardaway High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,067 students attended Hardaway High School.

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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.