Best High Schools in Zip Code 39842

Zip code 39842, serving the Dawson, Georgia area, is home to two high schools: Terrell High School, a traditional public school for grades 9-12, and Terrell Regional Youth Detention Center, a specialized facility school for grades 6-12 operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice.

For parents, the most important comparison is between these two very different settings. Terrell High School is the primary option for families, serving 266 students with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. The school faces significant academic challenges, with proficiency rates in Algebra I (11.2%), Biology (10.6%), and U.S. History (10.0%) running 28-37 points below state averages. These scores have declined sharply over the past year, and the school's state ranking has fallen from the 25th percentile to the 6th percentile over three years. Despite this, the school posts a strong 92.3% graduation rate, well above the state average of 87.2%. However, chronic absenteeism affects 23.2% of students, and 88.7% qualify for free/reduced lunch. The school spends a substantial $21,122 per student, yet this investment has not translated into higher test scores. In contrast, Terrell Regional Youth Detention Center offers an intensive environment with just 14 students and an extraordinarily low 2.3:1 student-teacher ratio, though no academic performance data is available for this facility.

The most striking takeaway is the disconnect at Terrell High School between high graduation rates and very low test proficiency, suggesting students may be advancing without mastering core material. The school's performance mirrors the Terrell County district averages exactly, as it is the district's only high school. The rapid one-year drop in Algebra I proficiency (from 25.4% to 11.2%) and the persistently high poverty rate point to systemic challenges that require targeted interventions beyond increased funding. For parents, this data suggests that while the school successfully graduates students, academic preparation and attendance remain critical areas of concern.