Best Public Schools in Albany, GA

The city of Albany, Georgia is home to 22 schools, including 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools. The Dougherty County school district, which encompasses all of these schools, is ranked 165 out of 203 districts in Georgia and has an overall 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, suggesting significant challenges in providing high-quality education to its students.

However, a few standout schools emerge from the data. Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet consistently ranks among the top in the state, with a 5-star rating and exceptionally high proficiency rates on state assessments. Lake Park Elementary School also performs very well, ranking in the top 30% of Georgia elementary schools with strong proficiency rates. Additionally, International Studies Elementary Charter School and Lincoln Elementary Magnet School stand out with above-average performance compared to the district and state.

The data also reveals a wide range in graduation rates, test scores, per-student spending, and student-teacher ratios across the schools, suggesting significant disparities in educational opportunities and resources. The consistently low performance of many of the schools, particularly the elementary and middle schools, is concerning and may be linked to the high rates of economic disadvantage among the student populations, as indicated by the high free/reduced lunch rates across all schools.