West Laurens High School

Q: Is West Laurens High School a good school?

West Laurens High School ranks 120 th of 458 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

West Laurens High School is a public high school located in Dexter, Georgia, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,271 students. The school is part of the Laurens County School District, which is ranked 42 out of 203 districts in Georgia and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

West Laurens High School has consistently performed well on the Georgia Milestones Assessments, with higher proficiency rates compared to the Laurens County and state averages in several subjects, including Algebra I, Biology, and United States History. The school has also maintained strong four-year graduation rates, ranging from 88.4% to 91.3% over the past five years, which are higher than the state average. Additionally, West Laurens High School has a relatively high per-student spending of $8,320, compared to the state average.

While West Laurens High School generally outperforms the nearby East Laurens High School and Dodge County High School on academic metrics, it lags behind the higher-performing Bleckley County High School, which has a 4-star rating and higher proficiency rates in several subjects. Additionally, West Laurens High School has a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, at around 85% in recent years, suggesting that the school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, which may impact academic performance and resource allocation.

Detail:

Public 9-12

3692 Ga Highway 257
Dexter, GA 31019

(478) 875-1000

District: Laurens County

SchoolDigger Rank:
120^th of 458 Georgia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,320

Feeder schools for West Laurens High School:

Elementary:	East Laurens Elementary School
	East Laurens Primary School
	Northwest Laurens Elementary
	Southwest Laurens Elementary
Middle:	East Laurens Middle School
	West Laurens Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.6

Number of students: 1,271

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.7%

African American:

25.7%

Hispanic:

4.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 84.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details West Laurens High School ranks better than 73.8% of high schools in Georgia. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.48. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West Laurens High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Student Body

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at West Laurens High School is $8,320.

Schooldigger Rankings:

West Laurens High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks West Laurens High School 120^th of 458 Georgia public high schools. (See West Laurens High School in the ranking list.)

Laurens County:

SchoolDigger ranks Laurens County 42^nd of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for West Laurens High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	GA State Percentile
2011	59.34	150^th	402	62.7%
2012	60.95	142^nd	396	64.1%
2013	63.06	120^th	425	71.8%
2014	69.31	83^rd	425	80.5%
2015	63.99	83^rd	435	80.9%
2016	60.92	97^th	426	77.2%
2017	54.09	117^th	420	72.1%
2018	64.19	101^st	428	76.4%
2019	56.10	133^rd	438	69.6%
2021	53.59	143^rd	410	65.1%
2022	40.24	221^st	429	48.5%
2023	72.43	68^th	442	84.6%
2024	62.48	120^th	458	73.8%

See the entire list of Georgia High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Georgia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for West Laurens High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	824	320	8	33	2	0	16	1203
2011	827	321	7	30	1	0	21	1207
2012	821	315	5	31	0	0	15	1187
2013	818	328	4	26	0	0	20	1196
2014	855	296	4	26	1	1	16	1199
2015	853	280	6	30	2	0	21	1192
2016	863	285	7	34	1	1	19	1210
2017	861	304	11	41	1	1	17	1236
2018	837	298	11	35	2	1	12	1196
2019	823	318	12	43	3	0	15	1214
2020	856	321	24	45	4	2	20	1272
2021	890	314	21	47	4	2	20	1298
2022	859	309	19	55	2	3	26	1273
2023	822	327	21	61	2	3	35	1271

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at West Laurens High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	1203	66.8	18.0	39.7
2011	1207	67.8	17.8	43.6
2012	1187	68.0	17.4	50.5
2013	1196	65.7	18.2	50.2
2014	1199	66.2	18.1	51.5
2015	1192	63.0	18.9	49.7
2016	1210	69.0	17.5	48.4
2017	1236	70.3	17.5	45.5
2018	1196	73.8	16.2	44.3
2019	1214	75.5	16.0	44.6
2020	1272	76.0	16.7	84.8
2021	1298	77.3	16.7	84.8
2022	1273	79.6	15.9	n/a
2023	1271	76.3	16.6	84.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio West Laurens High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	1203	66.8	18.0	39.7
2011	1207	67.8	17.8	43.6
2012	1187	68.0	17.4	50.5
2013	1196	65.7	18.2	50.2
2014	1199	66.2	18.1	51.5
2015	1192	63.0	18.9	49.7
2016	1210	69.0	17.5	48.4
2017	1236	70.3	17.5	45.5
2018	1196	73.8	16.2	44.3
2019	1214	75.5	16.0	44.6
2020	1272	76.0	16.7	84.8
2021	1298	77.3	16.7	84.8
2022	1273	79.6	15.9	n/a
2023	1271	76.3	16.6	84.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for West Laurens High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017	$204 (2.7%)	$7,240 (97.3%)	$7,443
2018	$274 (3.6%)	$7,432 (96.5%)	$7,705
2019	$370 (4.4%)	$7,950 (95.6%)	$8,320

Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on West Laurens High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 133^rd of 438 High schools	Ranks 68^th of 442 High schools	15%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course American Literature and Composition (West Laurens High School)	45.7	45.4	0.3%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Laurens County)	38.1	41.5	3.4%
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Georgia)	47.3	38.9	8.4%
End of Course Algebra I (West Laurens High School)	45.9	54.5	8.6%
End of Course Algebra I (Laurens County)	35.8	54	18.2%
End of Course Algebra I (Georgia)	41.1	35.8	5.3%
End of Course Biology (West Laurens High School)	34.6	62.6	28%
End of Course Biology (Laurens County)	47.5	55	7.5%
End of Course Biology (Georgia)	49	45.5	3.5%
End of Course United States History (West Laurens High School)	45.3	46.9	1.6%
End of Course United States History (Laurens County)	53.8	46.3	7.5%
End of Course United States History (Georgia)	48.3	37.1	11.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1214	1271	4.7%
African American	318	327	2.8%
American Indian	3	2	33.3%
Asian	12	21	75%
Hispanic	43	61	41.9%
Pacific Islander	0	3
White	823	822	0.1%
Two or More Races	15	35	133.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	44.6%	84.8%	40.3%

Schools Near West Laurens High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Milestones Assessment American Literature and Composition (2024)	Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2024)	Milestones Assessment Biology (2024)	Milestones Assessment United States History (2024)	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts (2024)	Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2024)	Milestones Assessment Science (2024)	Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment American Literature and Composition End of Course	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Biology End of Course	Milestones Assessment United States History End of Course	Milestones Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
West Laurens High School	Public	9-12	3692 Ga Highway 257	Dexter	31019	Laurens County	Laurens County	No	No	No	No	(478) 875-1000	1,271	76	16.6	84.8%	822 (64.7%)	327 (25.7%)	61 (4.8%)	21 (1.7%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	35 (2.8%)	62.5	120^th of 458 public high schools	73.8%		72.4	68^th of 442 public high schools	84.6%	52	47.1	48.6	48.0	50.5					$8,320	$370	$7,950
Dublin High School	Public	9-12	1127 Hillcrest Pkwy	Dublin	31021	Laurens County	Dublin City	No	No	No	Yes	(478) 353-8040	544	52	10.4	100.0%	39 (7.2%)	476 (87.5%)	12 (2.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.6%)	16.6	387^th of 458 public high schools	15.5%		14.1	383^rd of 442 public high schools	13.3%	4	13.6	13.6	18.0	26.9					$11,234	$1,283	$9,950
Cadwell RYDC	Public	6-12	2839 Railroad Ave	Cadwell	31009	Laurens County	Department of Juvenile Justice	No	No	No	Yes	(478) 689-4750	14			78.6%	7 (50.0%)	7 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)		0.0
Moore Street Facility	Public	6-12	1405 W Moore St	Dublin	31021	Laurens County	Dublin City	No	No	No	Yes	(478) 353-8400	55	6	9.1	100.0%	2 (3.6%)	52 (94.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	3.9	457^th of 458 public high schools	0.2%		4.6	440^th of 442 public high schools	0.5%	17	0.0		5.3	0.0					$19,551	$3,125	$16,426
East Laurens High School	Public	9-12	1010 Hwy 80 E	East Dublin	31027	Laurens County	Laurens County	No	No	No	Yes	(478) 272-3144	648	48	13.3	84.9%	324 (50.0%)	263 (40.6%)	34 (5.2%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (2.9%)	39	246^th of 458 public high schools	46.3%		49.7	177^th of 442 public high schools	60.0%	69	32.7	37.7	40.4	28.2					$9,803	$763	$9,041
Bleckley County Success Academy	Public	6-12	140 Country Club Rd	Cochran	31014	Bleckley County	Bleckley County	No	No	No	Yes	(478) 934-1685	53	3	15.5	71.7%	28 (52.8%)	20 (37.7%)	4 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	8	430^th of 458 public high schools	6.1%		10.5	413^th of 442 public high schools	6.6%	17	3.7	4.0	3.8	17.4	16.7	11.1	5.6	5.6	$12,591	$1,740	$10,851
Bleckley County High School	Public	9-12	1 Royal Dr	Cochran	31014	Bleckley County	Bleckley County	No	No	No	Yes	(478) 934-6258	671	45	14.8	45.2%	464 (69.2%)	162 (24.1%)	19 (2.8%)	8 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.7%)	64.6	108^th of 458 public high schools	76.4%		68.6	84^th of 442 public high schools	81.0%	24	51.6	53.2	51.8	40.4					$9,166	$727	$8,439
Dodge County High School	Public	9-12	350 Pearl Bates Ave	Eastman	31023	Dodge County	Dodge County	No	No	No	Yes	(478) 374-7711	834	55	15.0	67.7%	472 (56.6%)	260 (31.2%)	62 (7.4%)	7 (0.8%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	26 (3.1%)	38.4	249^th of 458 public high schools	45.6%		31.4	280^th of 442 public high schools	36.7%	31	31.5	21.9	39.6	37.6					$8,647	$767	$7,880

Frequently Asked Questions about West Laurens High School

What schools feed into West Laurens High School?

West Laurens High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : East Laurens Elementary School
Elementary : East Laurens Primary School
Elementary : Northwest Laurens Elementary
Elementary : Southwest Laurens Elementary
Middle : East Laurens Middle School
Middle : West Laurens Middle School

Is West Laurens High School a good school?

West Laurens High School ranks 120^th of 458 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is West Laurens High School in?

Laurens County

What is the racial makeup of West Laurens High School?

Students at West Laurens High School are 65% White, 26% African American, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend West Laurens High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,271 students attended West Laurens High School.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.