Best High Schools in Zip Code 31705

Zip code 31705 in Albany, Georgia is served by two high schools within the Dougherty County school district: Dougherty Comprehensive High School, a traditional 9-12 school with 1,191 students, and South Georgia Regional Achievement Center - The Phoenix, a much smaller alternative school serving grades 6-12 with just 73 students.

These two schools serve very different purposes and show contrasting results. Dougherty Comprehensive is the area's main high school and posts a graduation rate of 88.5%, which actually exceeds the state average of 87.2%, and a dropout rate of just 1.7%—better than both district and state averages. However, its academic proficiency is far below state levels, with only about 20% of students proficient in Algebra I, Biology, and US History compared to roughly 48% statewide. The school's most pressing issue is chronic absenteeism at 49.3%, meaning nearly half of its students miss significant school days, which likely drives the low test scores. In contrast, The Phoenix serves students who have been referred from traditional settings and shows a much harder profile: a 29.4% graduation rate, an 11.5% dropout rate, and 0% proficiency on most end-of-course exams. Interestingly, The Phoenix reports only 4.1% chronic absenteeism, likely due to its small size and intensive monitoring.

Both schools serve 100% free/reduced lunch populations, reflecting universal economic disadvantage across the zip code. Per-student spending differs notably, with Dougherty Comprehensive spending $15,775 per student versus $8,218 at The Phoenix, despite the alternative school's higher-need population. Dougherty Comprehensive has slipped from the 20th percentile to the 13th percentile in state rankings over two years, while The Phoenix remains in the 1st percentile. For parents, the key takeaway is that Dougherty Comprehensive successfully graduates students despite academic challenges, but attendance is the critical area needing improvement, while The Phoenix is a specialized placement option for students needing alternative support.