Summary:
Zip code 39819 in Bainbridge, GA, is home to two high schools within the Decatur County school district: Bainbridge High School, a traditional 9-12 school with about 1,192 students, and New Beginning Learning Center, an alternative school serving grades 6-12 with 183 students. Both schools serve predominantly low-income families, with free/reduced lunch rates of 98.74% and 100%, respectively.
Bainbridge High School is the stronger performer, though it has seen a notable decline in recent years. Its state ranking fell from the 70th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 42nd percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. Test scores dropped sharply across subjects—Algebra I proficiency fell from 45.7% to 27.3%, and U.S. History from 51% to 34.5%—moving the school from above state averages to well below them. Despite this, Bainbridge High excels at keeping students on track: its graduation rate is 96.6% (compared to 87.2% statewide) and its dropout rate is just 0.8%. Chronic absenteeism, however, is a concern at 27.7%, well above the state's 17.7%.
In contrast, New Beginning Learning Center faces profound challenges. It ranks in the 1st percentile statewide, with near-zero proficiency in every subject (0% in Algebra I and Biology, 2.9% in U.S. History). Its graduation rate is just 62.3%, the dropout rate is 7.8%, and chronic absenteeism is a staggering 68.6%. The resource disparity is striking: New Beginning receives $9,418 per student with a 24:1 student-teacher ratio, while Bainbridge High receives $14,403 per student with a 13.2:1 ratio—meaning the students with the greatest needs get the least support. The district overall ranks 173rd of 201 in Georgia, and these two schools illustrate the wide gap within it.
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