Terrell High School

Terrell High School in Dawson, GA, serves about 266 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Terrell County school district, a rural community where nearly 89% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most encouraging news for parents is that Terrell High School graduates its students at rates that consistently beat the state average—92.3% in the most recent year compared to 87.2% statewide, with a five-year streak above 87% and a peak of 97.7% in 2022-2023. However, test scores tell a much more difficult story. On the most recent End of Course assessments, only about 11% of students scored proficient in Algebra I and Biology, and just 10% in US History—all roughly 30 to 37 points below state averages. These results place the school in the bottom 6th percentile statewide, a sharp drop from its 25th percentile ranking just two years earlier. Chronic absenteeism also spiked to 23.2%, up from 11.5% the prior year, which may be connected to the recent academic slide.

Comparing Terrell to nearby schools highlights both challenges and possibilities. Lee County High School, just 15 miles away, achieves far higher proficiency (64.6% in US History vs. 10% at Terrell) while spending nearly $10,000 less per student. More tellingly, Westover High School serves a similarly high-poverty population (88.5% free/reduced lunch) yet posts Algebra I proficiency of 36.8% and a 95.1% graduation rate—proof that economic challenges don't have to limit outcomes. Monroe High School shows more comparable results, though still ahead in most subjects. Terrell spends $21,122 per student—the highest among these neighbors—and maintains a favorable 13:1 student-teacher ratio, yet these resources haven't translated into academic gains. For parents, the picture is mixed: the school clearly keeps students on track to graduate, but the recent decline in test scores and rising absenteeism suggest urgent attention is needed in core academic areas.