Summary:
Zip code 30224 in Griffin, Georgia, is home to two public high schools—Griffin High School and Spalding High School—serving roughly 2,700 students in grades 9-12 within the Griffin-Spalding County district, which ranks in the bottom 15% of Georgia districts.
For parents comparing the two schools, the picture is mixed. Spalding High School is the stronger test performer, beating Griffin in Algebra I (28.4% vs. 19.2% proficient), Biology (33.5% vs. 18.3%), and overall state ranking (333rd vs. 382nd). Spalding also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (27.6% vs. 32.4%), a better student-teacher ratio (15.2:1 vs. 17.5:1), and higher per-student spending ($14,283 vs. $12,859). However, Griffin High School shines in graduation outcomes: its 93.4% graduation rate tops both Spalding (88.0%) and the state average (87.2%), and its dropout rate is just 1.0%—the lowest in the area. Griffin also serves a much higher concentration of low-income students, with 98.67% qualifying for free/reduced lunch compared to Spalding’s 82.37%.
Both schools trail state proficiency averages in every subject, though they show some positive momentum. Griffin improved in all three tested subjects year-over-year, including a dramatic 7.6-point jump in U.S. History (now 25.5% proficient), while Spalding improved in Algebra I but slipped in Biology and U.S. History. Chronic absenteeism remains a major challenge for both, far exceeding the state’s 17.7% rate. In short, Spalding offers stronger academics and resources, while Griffin demonstrates remarkable success in getting students to graduation despite greater economic hurdles. Parents should weigh these different strengths carefully. Note: English Language Arts scores were not included in this release and will be published in December; their absence should not be interpreted as a decline by either school.
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