Top 10 Counties for Public School Education in Georgia
Finding the right school for your child can be more challenging than you might think. In Georgia, many parents simply enroll their children in the nearest school in their zone. While this may work for some families, many students might miss out on better educational opportunities available in other counties. Here are the top 10 counties across Georgia to consider for public school education at each level.
About This List
The ranking of the top school districts is based on an in-depth analysis of test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users, alongside student life and academic data from the U.S. Department of Education. For more details on Niche’s data-gathering methods, click here.
This methodology also applies to overall Niche grades for each school district. The most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Education has been used. While several school districts self-report these statistics, Niche also collects data directly from schools via their Niche Partner Portal. If you work for a school and would like to update your data, please claim your school.
Top 10 Counties for Public Schools
No. 10 | Columbia County
- Population: 156,921
- Schools: 32
- Proficiency: 69% in math, 65% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1067 (SAT), 22 (ACT)
Columbia County neighbors Augusta, allowing some residents of the city to attend schools in this county. The county ranks high in diversity, housing, and family friendliness.
No. 9 | Lowndes County
- Population: 118,257
- Schools: 20
- Proficiency: 63% in math, 51% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1030 (SAT), 19 (ACT)
Including Valdosta and over 10 smaller towns, Lowndes County is known for its diversity, weather, nightlife, and family friendliness.
No. 8 | Heard County
- Population: 11,489
- Schools: 6
- Proficiency: 54% in math, 51% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1003 (SAT), 21 (ACT)
Heard County is close to Newnan, Lagrange, and several cities in Georgia and Alabama. It is praised for family friendliness and housing affordability.
No. 7 | Monroe County
- Population: 28,287
- Schools: 5
- Proficiency: 53% in math, 48% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1016 (SAT), 21 (ACT)
Monroe County offers school options for residents in north-central Georgia, near Athens. It ranks high in family friendliness, weather, cost of living, and housing availability.
No. 6 | Pierce County
- Population: 19,822
- Schools: 5
- Proficiency: 61% in math, 53% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1082 (SAT), 20 (ACT)
With no large neighboring cities, Pierce County is ideal for those seeking educational opportunities in less recognized areas. The county is noted for its cost of living and housing availability.
No. 5 | Morgan County
- Population: 20,171
- Schools: 4
- Proficiency: 48% in math, 46% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1064 (SAT), 21 (ACT)
Morgan County is a viable option for families commuting to Athens or Atlanta. It is highly ranked for family friendliness and housing availability.
No. 4 | Camden County
- Population: 55,105
- Schools: 12
- Proficiency: 63% in math, 56% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1085 (SAT), 22 (ACT)
Camden County, near Brunswick and Jacksonville, FL, is praised for its family friendliness and diversity.
No. 3 | Fayette County
- Population: 119,259
- Schools: 25
- Proficiency: 71% in math, 74% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1109 (SAT), 22 (ACT)
Located close to Atlanta, Fayette County is known for its family friendliness, diversity, nightlife, housing and job availability, and affordability.
No. 2 | Forsyth County
- Population: 253,225
- Schools: 43
- Proficiency: 79% in math, 78% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1165 (SAT), 24 (ACT)
Forsyth County, near Lake Lanier and Atlanta’s northeast outskirts, ranks high in health and fitness, jobs and housing accessibility, outdoor activities, and family friendliness.
No. 1 | Oconee County
- Population: 41,978
- Schools: 11
- Proficiency: 78% in math, 71% in reading
- SAT/ACT Scores: 1148 (SAT), 25 (ACT)
Located south of Athens, Oconee County offers excellent school options for residents in towns between eastern Atlanta and southwestern Athens. The county is highly ranked for jobs and housing accessibility, health and fitness, outdoor activities, and family friendliness.
