Stephens County High School

Stephens County High School in Toccoa, GA, serves approximately 1,133 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Stephens County district. The school’s biggest strength is its graduation rate—96.1% in 2024-2025, nearly nine points above the state average of 87.2%—a consistent pattern over the past five years. However, the school’s statewide ranking has slipped from the 71st percentile (4 stars) in 2017-2018 to the 43rd percentile (2 stars) today, and academic proficiency in key subjects like Algebra I and U.S. History trails state averages by 8 to 14 points. Biology is a bright spot, with proficiency matching the state at about 47.7%.

Compared to nearby Franklin County High School—which serves a similar share of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (about 89% free/reduced lunch)—Stephens County posts a higher graduation rate (96.1% vs. 92.2%) and better Biology scores, but lags in Algebra I (35.1% vs. 43.1%) and U.S. History (24.3% vs. 32.7%). The contrast with Habersham Central High School, about 11 miles away, is starker: Habersham Central ranks in the 80th percentile and posts a 56.3% proficiency rate in U.S. History, compared to Stephens County’s 24.3%. That said, Habersham Central’s Algebra I proficiency is just 2.9%, far below Stephens County’s 35.1%, so direct comparisons on that metric can be misleading.

One notable trend is the rapid shift in student demographics: free/reduced lunch eligibility jumped from about 46% in 2022-2023 to nearly 89% in 2024-2025, signaling a significant increase in economic need. The school has made real progress reducing chronic absenteeism from 31.4% to 18.6% over four years, nearly matching the state average. Per-student spending has risen 22.8% over three years to $13,650, though academic gains haven’t kept pace. Subgroup data shows particular challenges for Hispanic students (7th percentile statewide) and multi-racial students (11th percentile), while White and African American students rank in the 19th and 26th percentiles, respectively. For parents, this is a school that excels at getting students to graduation but faces clear work in raising academic proficiency across core subjects.