What share of students in Georgia are proficient in math?

In 2024, 24% of eighth graders in Georgia public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 31% in reading, compared with 31% and 32% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Georgia, United States: official figures

84.1% of public high school students in Georgia graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 17th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

84.1%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

214

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

269

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$15,833

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,749,701

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

36.3%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Georgia rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Georgia was 84.1% in 2021-22, compared with 70% in 2011-12 and 82.0% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Georgia?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Georgia was 78.6% for economically disadvantaged students, 72.5% for students with disabilities and 66.2% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Georgia?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Georgia was 82.2% for Black, 77.8% for Hispanic and 87.4% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Georgia score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Georgia averaged 214 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 218 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 30% scored at or above Proficient and 41% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Georgia score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Georgia averaged 259 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 17th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 262 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 32% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Georgia score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Georgia averaged 236 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 238 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 38% scored at or above Proficient and 25% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Georgia score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Georgia averaged 269 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 279 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 24% scored at or above Proficient and 44% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Georgia spend per student?

Public school systems in Georgia spent $15,833 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Georgia going up?

Current spending per pupil in Georgia rose from $11,228 in fiscal 2019 to $15,833 in fiscal 2024, up 41.0% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 9.8%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Georgia spend school money on?

Of the $15,833 spent per pupil in Georgia in fiscal 2024, $9,380 went on instruction and $5,643 on support services; salaries and wages came to $8,815 per pupil and employee benefits $3,962.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Georgia come from?

Public school systems in Georgia received $31.7 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 12.0% from the federal government, 39.4% from the state and 48.6% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Georgia spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Georgia was $31.1 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $27.1 billion was current spending and $3.7 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $4.8 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Georgia?

1,749,701 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Georgia in fall 2023, down 1.1% on fall 2019 (1,769,657) and up 1.5% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Georgia?

Public schools in Georgia had 121,301 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 14.4 pupils per teacher, 23rd most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Georgia in fall 2019: 15.0).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Georgia have a college degree?

36.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Georgia, about 2,756,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.7 percentage points on 2021 (34.6%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Georgia have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 14.8% of adults 25 and over in Georgia had a graduate or professional degree and 8.4% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Georgia did not finish high school?

89.8% of adults 25 and over in Georgia had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 10.2% without one; that share is 12th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Georgia compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Georgia ranks 33 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
30	Montana	85.8%
31	New Jersey	85.2%
32	North Dakota	85.1%
33	Georgia	84.1%
34	South Carolina	83.8%
35	Washington	83.6%
36	Minnesota	83.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Georgia ranks 27 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
24	North Carolina	79.5%
25	Nebraska	79.0%
26	New Jersey	78.7%
27	Georgia	78.6%
28	Maryland	77.9%
29	Louisiana	77.5%
30	Utah	77.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Georgia ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
25	South Carolina	215
26	Iowa	215
27	Illinois	214
28	Georgia	214
29	Virginia	214
30	Minnesota	214
31	South Dakota	214

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Georgia ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
15	South Dakota	260
16	Wyoming	260
17	Pennsylvania	259
18	Georgia	259
19	Washington	259
20	Tennessee	259
21	Maryland	258

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Georgia ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
29	Kansas	237
30	Rhode Island	237
31	Illinois	236
32	Georgia	236
33	Alabama	236
34	Michigan	235
35	Missouri	235

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Georgia ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
33	Rhode Island	270
34	California	269
35	Texas	269
36	Georgia	269
37	Mississippi	269
38	Maryland	268
39	South Carolina	268

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Georgia ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
32	Kentucky	24.3%
33	Michigan	23.9%
34	Texas	23.7%
35	Georgia	23.7%
36	South Carolina	23.7%
37	Oregon	23.7%
38	Hawaii	23.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Georgia ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
21	Maryland	40.8%
22	New York	40.7%
23	Illinois	40.7%
24	Georgia	40.6%
25	South Carolina	40.3%
26	Kansas	40.1%
27	South Dakota	39.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Georgia ranks 29 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
26	Nebraska	$16,147
27	Wisconsin	$15,952
28	Colorado	$15,908
29	Georgia	$15,833
30	West Virginia	$15,640
31	Louisiana	$15,581
32	Kansas	$15,558

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Georgia ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
7	Michigan	+43.6%
8	Vermont	+41.9%
9	Utah	+41.6%
10	Georgia	+41.0%
11	District of Columbia	+39.7%
12	Arizona	+39.2%
13	Idaho	+38.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Georgia ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
13	Texas	50.8%
14	South Dakota	49.9%
15	Virginia	48.9%
16	Georgia	48.6%
17	Massachusetts	48.1%
18	New Jersey	47.4%
19	Louisiana	47.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Georgia ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
20	Kentucky	15.3
21	Texas	14.8
22	New Mexico	14.6
23	Georgia	14.4
24	Maryland	14.3
25	Hawaii	14.2
26	Delaware	14.2

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Georgia ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
16	Ohio	-0.9%
17	North Carolina	-1.0%
18	Tennessee	-1.0%
19	Georgia	-1.1%
20	New Jersey	-1.4%
21	Indiana	-1.8%
22	Iowa	-1.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Georgia ranks 22 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
19	North Carolina	37.1%
20	Maine	37.1%
21	Pennsylvania	36.4%
22	Georgia	36.3%
23	Montana	36.3%
24	Kansas	36.0%
25	Delaware	36.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Georgia ranks 12 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
9	Arkansas	10.7%
10	Alabama	10.4%
11	Arizona	10.3%
12	Georgia	10.2%
13	West Virginia	9.9%
14	Oklahoma	9.8%
15	Florida	9.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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