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Public Schools by County
SPOTLIGHT ON METRO ATLANTA’S SCHOOL SYSTEMS
Avariety of improvements and innovative programs in Georgia’s public school systems have resulted in many stellar elementary, middle and high schools across the metro area. Different school systems feature specialized programs and academic opportunities, such as magnet, charter, vocational or alternative schools, to suit their respective students, parents and communities. However, despite variations in programming and academic offerings, all public schools must offer the core curriculum as determined by the Georgia Board of Education.
Here is a county-by-county guide to metro Atlanta’s public school systems. For more information about the Georgia Department of Education, call 404-656-2800 or visit gadoe.org. u
THE MAIN STREET ACADEMY
College Park, GA
Established in 2010, The Main Street Academy (TMSA) is a longstanding, tuitionfree Fulton County Schools public charter school that serves and educates students in grades K-8.
The school’s mission focuses on providing a challenging and enriching curriculum that centers on developing the whole child—intellectual, artistic, character, and health. Led by highly qualified teachers, students receive a unique and rigorous learning curriculum. TMSA’s innovative project-based learning approach with an integrated STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) framework helps its diverse base of students become 21st-century leaders.
TMSA is also a community for committed families who want their students to be grounded in character and inspired by academic advancements to thrive in a competitive, evolving world.
Nestled in a historic College Park neighborhood amongst tall oak and magnolia trees, TMSA’s 28-acre campus encompasses a 110,000-square-foot educational building with a media center, art and music rooms, and a gymnasium. A newly expanded STEAM educational center for students opens in June.
TMSA is currently accepting applications for the 2022-23 school year. For additional information, visit tmsa.org or call 404-768-0081.
PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTY GUIDE BARTOW
ADAIRSVILLE
BARTOW
WHITE
CARTERSVILLE
EMERSON
Board of Education 770-606-5800 bartow.k12.ga.us
Number of Schools Elementary 12 Middle 4 High 3 Career Academy 1 Virtual Academy 1
Total # of Students: 12,849 Student Spending: $10,399 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 493 (M) 512 5th: (ELA) 511 (M) 512 8th: (ELA) 508 (M) 508
2021 Average SAT: 1053
Top 3 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Woodland 1062 Adairsville High 1057 Cass High 1043
What’s New: Three Bartow County seniors have been named 2022 Georgia Scholars by the Georgia Department of Education: Ashton Phillips and Mark Brunson of Adairsville High School and Rylee Evans of Woodland High. Only 216 graduating seniors from across the state were awarded this prestigious title.
CHEROKEE
CHEROKEE
Board of Education 770-479-1871 cherokeek12.net
Number of Schools Elementary 23 Middle 7 High 6 Alternative 1 Centers 5 Virtual 1
Total # of Students: 40,807 Student Spending: $10,215 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 515 (M) 533 5th: (ELA) 519 (M) 532 8th: (ELA) 521 (M) 518
2021 Average SAT: 1125
Top 6 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score River Ridge High 1140 Sequoyah High 1134 Woodstock High 1127 Etowah High 1121 Cherokee High 1116 Creekview High 1116
What’s New: The Georgia School Boards Association has awarded the Cherokee County Board of Education its Leading Edge Award in the Culture, Climate & Organizational Efficacy category.
CLAYTON
CLAYTON
Number of Schools Elementary 34 Primary 2 Middle 14 High 9 Alternative 1 Performing Arts Center 1 Adult Education 1 Charter 2 Magnet 5 Open Campus 1
Total # of Students: 51,407 Student Spending: $10,080 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 459 (M) 473 5th: (ELA) 478 (M) 460 8th: (ELA) 485 (M) 466
2021 Average SAT: 946
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Elite Scholars Academy 1085 Morrow High School 1056 M. E. Stilwell School of the Arts 1014 North Clayton High School 963 Lovejoy High School 948
Board of Education 770-473-2700 clayton.k12.ga.us
What’s New: Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) has been selected to benefit from a new education equity initiative funded by Georgia Power.
COBB
Board of Education 770-426-3300 cobbk12.org
COWETA
COWETA
Board of Education 770-254-2800 cowetaschools.net
DEKALB
DEKALB
Board of Education 678-676-1200 dekalbschoolsga.org
Number of Schools Elementary 65 Primary 2 Middle 25 6th Grade Academy 1 High 10 Magnet High Schools 6 Charter 1 Learning Centers 1 Adult Education Center 1 Special Education Centers 2 Virtual Academies 1 Total # of Students: 106,549 Student Spending: $10,855 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 509 (M) 515 5th: (ELA) 518 (M) 510 8th: (ELA) 517 (M) 513
2021 Average SAT: 1150
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Walton High School 1275 Wheeler High School 1233 Alan C. Pope High School 1205 Lassiter High School 1176 Sprayberry High School 1104
What’s New: Brumby Elementary and the district partnered with Paint Love and Muhammad Yungui on a retaining wall project.
Number of Schools Elementary 19 Middle 7 High 3 Charter & Career Academy 2 Alternative 2 Centre for Performing and Visual Arts 1 Special Education 1 Virtual 1
Total # of Students: 21,693 Student Spending: $9,943 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 513 (M) 522 5th: (ELA) 517 (M) 510 8th: (ELA) 515 (M) 501
2021 Average SAT: 1110
Top 3 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Northgate High 1129 Newnan High 1112 East Coweta High 1095
What’s New: The Senoia City Council approved an agreement between the city and Coweta Charter Academy to appoint a school resource officer.
Number of Schools Elementary 69 Middle 17 High 19 Charter 5 Magnet 3 Centers, Special Education and Alternative 24
Total # of Students: 90,899 Student Spending: $13,002 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 476 (M) 487 5th: (ELA) 492 (M) 474 8th: (ELA) 495 (M) 482
2021 Average SAT: 1037
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score DeKalb Early College Academy 1249 Chamblee Charter High 1208 DeKalb School of the Arts 1203 Lakeside High 1189 Dunwoody High 1182
What’s New: The DeKalb County School District has partnered with the Latin American Association (LAA) of Atlanta to open a new learning hub at LAA. It’s equipped with computers, information about postsecondary schools and more.
PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTY GUIDE DOUGLAS
DOUGLAS
Board of Education 770-651-2000 dcssga.org
FAYETTE
FAYETTE
Board of Education 770-460-3990 fcboe.org
Number of Schools Elementary 20 Middle 8 High 5 Centers 3 Charter 1 Virtual 1
Total # of Students: 25,685 Student Spending: $10,216 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 490 (M) 499 5th: (ELA) 508 (M) 494 8th: (ELA) 510 (M) 493
2021 Average SAT: 1036
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Douglas County High 1070 Chapel Hill High 1061 Alexander High 1044 New Manchester High 971 Lithia Springs High 960
What’s New: At New Manchester High, juniors and seniors in the Advancement Via Individual Determination program took personal responsibility for the costs of taking their SAT and ACT tests. They sold baking mixes to family, friends and teachers, earning over $900.
Number of Schools Elementary 14 Middle 5 High 5 Alternative 1 Open Campus 1 Virtual 1
Total # of Students: 19,552 Student Spending: $11,687 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 531 (M) 536 5th: (ELA) 532 (M) 530 8th: (ELA) 544 (M) 540
2021 Average SAT: 1152
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score McIntosh High 1226 Starr’s Mill High 1156 Whitewater High 1152 Sandy Creek High 1066 Fayette County High 1042
What’s New: Flat Rock Middle School’s STEAM Careers students researched, designed, planned, and installed a pollinator habitat for butterflies at the Flat Rock Food Forest.
Number of Schools Elementary 22 Middle 11 High 7 Non-Traditional 2 Virtual 1 Charter/Evening 1 Career Academy 1
FORSYTH
FORSYTH
Total # of Students: 50,712 Student Spending: $9,458 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 537 (M) 552 5th: (ELA) 542 (M) 558 8th: (ELA) 539 (M) 534
2021 Average SAT: 1193
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Lambert High 1251 South Forsyth High 1241 Alliance Academy 1226 Denmark High 1205 Forsyth Central 1152
Board of Education 770-887-2461 forsyth.k12.ga.us
What’s New: Whitlow Elementary’s fourth- and fifth-graders are the first in the Forsyth County School District to use Unruly Splats, programmable floor buttons that students can code to create games like relay races and whack-a-mole, to combine PE and STEM learning activities.
ATLANTA
FULTON
Board of Education 470-254-3600 fultonschools.org
GRIFFINSPALDING
GWINNETT
Board of Education 770-229-3700 spalding.k12.ga.us
GWINNETT
Board of Education 678-301-6000 gcpsk12.org
Number of Schools Elementary 59 Middle 19 High 20 Charter 10 Alternative Schools 3 Virtual Campus 2
Total # of Students: 88,390 Student Spending: $11,746 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 527 (M) 535 5th: (ELA) 530 (M) 526 8th: (ELA) 521 (M) 519
2021 Average SAT: 1128
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Northview High 1301 Alpharetta High 1265 Chattahoochee High 1249 Johns Creek High 1241 Milton High 1201
What’s New: The United Way’s Bridge pre-apprenticeship program has been relaunched. It is facilitated by Fulton County Schools Career, Technical and Agriculture Education (CTAE) Work-Based Learning staff.
Number of Schools Elementary 11 Middle 4 High 2 Alternative 2 Career Academy 1
Total # of Students: 9,284 Student Spending: $11,022 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 458 (M) 479 5th: (ELA) 480 (M) 470 8th: (ELA) 488 (M) 474
2021 Average SAT: 983
Top 2 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Spalding High 1040 Griffin High 931
What’s New: The Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) Nutrition Department has received $100,000 in grant funding to help feed more children in the community. GSCS has 18 foodservice sites that provide healthy and nutritious meals to 9,500 students at no cost. The grant funds will allow the district to replace kitchen equipment and buy new nutrition software.
Number of Schools Elementary 80 Middle 29 High 21 Alternative 4 Charter 2 Open Campus 1 Virtual School 1 Special Education 2 Center 1 Career/Technical 4
Total # of Students: 176,358 Student Spending: $9,932 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 511 (M) 520 5th: (ELA) 518 (M) 514 8th: (ELA) 509 (M) 504
2021 Average SAT: 1132
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Gwinnett School of Math, Science, and Technology 1378 North Gwinnett High 1210 Peachtree Ridge High 1155 Brookwood High 1152 Parkview High 1142
What’s New: Brookwood High’s School’s Stella Kwon has been named a 2022 Coca-Cola Scholar. Kwon is one of 150 Scholars who will receive a $20,000 college scholarship.
PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTY GUIDE HALL
HALL
Board of Education 770-534-1080 hallco.org
Number of Schools Elementary 11 Middle 6 High 6 Magnet 12 Alternative 1 Career 2 Virtual 1
Total # of Students: 26,558 Student Spending: $9,934 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 492 (M) 507 5th: (ELA) 504 (M) 497 8th: (ELA) 499 (M) 501
2021 Average SAT: 1086
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Flowery Branch High 1123 Chestatee High 1121 North Hall High 1116 Johnson High 1087 East Hall High 1042
What’s New: Hall Country School District Superintendent Will Schofield has obtained $2.5 million from the state to help fund a meat processing plant at the district’s Agribusiness Center.
HENRY
HENRY
Number of Schools Elementary 26 Middle 11 High 10 Charter 2 Alternative 1 Career Academy 1 Virtual School 1
Total # of Students: 42,048 Student Spending: $9,638 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 489 (M) 501 5th: (ELA) 502 (M) 490 8th: (ELA) 511 (M) 496
2021 Average SAT: 1029
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Union Grove High 1097 Ola High 1086 Eagles Landing High 1053 Dutchtown High 1033 Locust Grove High 1027
Board of Education 770-957-6601 schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us
What’s New: The Henry County Board of Education has approved the site for Henry County Schools’ first STEM high school. The campus will sit adjacent to the current Stockbridge Elementary.
PAULDING
PAULDING
BRASWELL
278
Number of Schools Elementary 19 Middle 9 High 5 Alternative 1 Career 1
Total # of Students: 29,735 Student Spending: $9,898 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 512 (M) 522 5th: (ELA) 513 (M) 514 8th: (ELA) 520 (M) 509
2021 Average SAT: 1053
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Paulding County High 1078 North Paulding High 1077 East Paulding High 1034 Hiram High 1030 South Paulding High 1024
Board of Education 770-443-8000 paulding.k12.ga.us
What’s New: The Paulding County Board of Education has voted unanimously to confirm Steve Barnette as superintendent of the Paulding County School District. Barnette has been interim superintendent since June 2021, and was previously the school district’s CFO. Before serving in public education, he was a senior leader with several industry-leading technology companies.
ROCKDALE
Board of Education 770-483-4713 rockdaleschools.org
ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BUFORD CITY SCHOOLS
Number of Schools Elementary 11 Middle 4 High 3 Alternative 1 Career Academy 1 Magnet 1 Open Campus 1 Virtual School 2 Total # of Students: 15,334 Student Spending: $11,236 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 481 (M) 486 5th: (ELA) 494 (M) 471 8th: (ELA) 509 (M) 482
2021 Average SAT: 1057
Top 3 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Rockdale High 1106 Heritage High 1019 Salem High 998
What’s New: Rockdale County Public Schools and Tutor.com have partnered to provide live, online tutoring services for its students. Services will help quarantined students in grades 6-12 and on-campus students in grades K-12.
Board of Education 404-802-3500
atlantapublicschools.us
Number of Schools Elementary 42 Intermediate 4 Middle 10 High 10 Charter 19 Alternative 4 Virtual 1
Total # of Students: 49,811 Student Spending: $17,725 2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 490 (M) 497 5th: (ELA) 500 (M) 488 8th: (ELA) 502 (M) 489
2021 Average SAT: 927
Top 5 Schools by Average 2021 SAT Score Midtown High 1082 Atlanta Classical Academy 1068 KIPP Atlanta Collegiate Academy 1034 North Atlanta High 1021 Charles R. Drew Charter High 946
What’s New: The foreign language program at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy got a boost when the consul general of Japan in Atlanta donated $30,000 to help bolster its Japanese language program. The funds will be used to support a Japanese teacher’s salary.
Board of Education 770-945-5035 bufordcityschools.org
Number of Schools Elementary (K-1) 1 1st-3rd Grade Academy 1 4th-5th Grade Academy 1 Middle 1 High 1 Total # of Students: 5,447 Student Spending: $11,241
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 543 (M) 556 5th: (ELA) 531 (M) 536 8th: (ELA) 554 (M) 558
2021 Average SAT: 1162
What’s New: Construction projects over the next three years are geared to meet growing student body needs. Projects at Buford Middle include a visitor’s fieldhouse at Tom Riden Stadium and renovations providing 20 new classrooms.
PUBLIC SCHOOL COUNTY GUIDE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR
Board of Education 404-371-3601 csdecatur.net
Number of Schools Elementary 5 Middle 1 3rd-5th Grade Academy 1 4th & 5th Grade Academy 1 High 1 Early Learning Center 1 Virtual 1 Total # of Students: 5,620 Student Spending: $14,521
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 550 (M) 550 5th: (ELA) 547 (M) 543 8th: (ELA) 547 (M) 530
2021 Average SAT: 1227
What’s New: The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia’s highest achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. Decatur High senior Lydia Witter has been honored as a 2022 STAR Student, and her STAR Teacher is Shelby Coffin.
GAINESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS
Board of Education 770-536-5275 gcssk12.net
Number of Schools Elementary 6 Middle 2 High 1 Virtual 1 Total # of Students: 7,469 Student Spending: $10,842
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 470 (M) 500 5th: (ELA) 494 (M) 495 8th: (ELA) 496 (M) 494
2021 Average SAT: 1055
What’s New: The new Gainesville Middle School West is scheduled to open for the 2022-23 school year, and Gainesville High School can expect to begin using its new Student Activities Center as well. As these projects come to completion, the district looks ahead to future projects, including full-sized gymnasiums at three elementary schools that don’t have them — Centennial, Gainesville and New Holland.
MARIETTA CITY SCHOOLS
Board of Education 770-422-3500 marietta-city.org
Number of Schools Elementary 7 Sixth Grade 1 Middle 1 High 1 Alternative 1 Magnet 1 Early Learning 1 Total # of Students: 8,471 Student Spending: $13,426
2021 Mean Georgia Milestone Scores: 3rd: (ELA) 503 (M) 517 5th: (ELA) 517 (M) 512 8th: (ELA) 507 (M) 509
2021 Average SAT: 1073
What’s New: Marietta City Schools will not offer a full-time virtual schooling option in the 2022-23 school year. Students can make use, however, of a state-run virtual option for grades 6-12, Georgia Virtual, an online school program through the Georgia Department of Education.
