While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students have suffered the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $524 - $1,112 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Georgia has the 15th most equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 179 districts in Georgia based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil. Read on for the district ranking and a complete description of our methodology.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Georgia
| Rank* | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walker County | 0.05 | $11,901 | $46,041 |
| 2 | Liberty County | 0.15 | $11,185 | $49,102 |
| 3 | Randolph County | 0.62 | $15,299 | $31,699 |
| 4 | Whitfield County | 0.76 | $10,915 | $50,510 |
| 5 | Oglethorpe County | 1.01 | $11,530 | $47,120 |
| 6 | Lowndes County | 1.30 | $9,618 | $54,899 |
| 7 | Clarke County | 1.33 | $13,545 | $38,623 |
| 8 | Calhoun County | 1.74 | $14,574 | $34,167 |
| 9 | Banks County | 2.15 | $11,232 | $47,811 |
| 10 | Webster County | 2.28 | $13,756 | $37,297 |
| 11 | Haralson County | 2.38 | $11,524 | $46,494 |
| 12 | Jefferson City | 2.48 | $9,195 | $58,451 |
| 13 | Gainesville City | 2.89 | $10,251 | $51,520 |
| 14 | Glascock County | 3.65 | $12,579 | $45,000 |
| 15 | Cartersville City | 3.69 | $10,200 | $51,351 |
| 16 | Jasper County | 3.89 | $11,097 | $51,250 |
| 17 | Gordon County | 4.35 | $10,745 | $48,778 |
| 18 | Miller County | 4.46 | $11,755 | $44,542 |
| 19 | Camden County | 5.09 | $9,858 | $56,951 |
| 20 | Twiggs County | 5.35 | $13,987 | $34,879 |
| 21 | Griffin-Spalding County | 5.43 | $11,023 | $47,111 |
| 22 | Lumpkin County | 5.64 | $11,168 | $51,790 |
| 23 | Thomas County | 5.70 | $11,466 | $50,583 |
| 24 | Social Circle City | 5.89 | $10,775 | $53,538 |
| 25 | Heard County | 6.01 | $11,315 | $51,358 |
| 26 | Long County | 6.47 | $9,094 | $54,605 |
| 27 | Montgomery County | 6.51 | $12,212 | $41,673 |
| 28 | Glynn County | 7.23 | $11,064 | $52,977 |
| 29 | Carroll County | 7.35 | $10,154 | $56,801 |
| 30 | Bremen City | 7.43 | $10,087 | $57,120 |
| 31 | Commerce City | 7.64 | $10,787 | $47,035 |
| 32 | Jones County | 7.64 | $10,377 | $56,020 |
| 33 | Wilkinson County | 7.70 | $12,722 | $38,996 |
| 34 | Habersham County | 7.78 | $11,710 | $50,563 |
| 35 | Gilmer County | 7.86 | $11,222 | $52,625 |
| 36 | Troup County | 7.99 | $11,082 | $45,649 |
| 37 | Marion County | 8.34 | $11,284 | $44,643 |
| 38 | Franklin County | 8.36 | $11,802 | $42,488 |
| 39 | Bleckley County | 8.59 | $10,403 | $48,174 |
| 40 | Warren County | 9.03 | $15,081 | $37,203 |
| 41 | Stephens County | 9.04 | $10,595 | $47,164 |
| 42 | Dougherty County | 9.61 | $12,360 | $39,584 |
| 43 | Lincoln County | 9.79 | $12,301 | $39,742 |
| 44 | Brooks County | 10.09 | $12,618 | $38,285 |
| 45 | Union County | 10.19 | $12,119 | $50,021 |
| 46 | Crawford County | 10.24 | $10,670 | $46,283 |
| 47 | Chickamauga City | 10.43 | $9,726 | $50,101 |
| 48 | Rabun County | 10.86 | $14,012 | $42,500 |
| 49 | Madison County | 11.03 | $11,617 | $52,500 |
| 50 | Pulaski County | 11.04 | $10,851 | $45,148 |
| 51 | Tift County | 11.11 | $10,725 | $45,639 |
| 52 | Mcintosh County | 11.17 | $12,357 | $49,504 |
| 53 | Baldwin County | 11.38 | $11,169 | $43,672 |
| 54 | Johnson County | 11.46 | $11,456 | $42,446 |
| 55 | Turner County | 11.52 | $12,754 | $37,039 |
| 56 | Muscogee County | 11.66 | $10,636 | $45,743 |
| 57 | Peach County | 11.94 | $10,388 | $46,636 |
| 58 | White County | 11.95 | $11,724 | $52,493 |
| 59 | Bibb County | 12.16 | $11,644 | $41,334 |
| 60 | Bulloch County | 12.22 | $10,619 | $45,550 |
| 61 | Wilcox County | 12.49 | $12,661 | $36,964 |
| 62 | Newton County | 12.50 | $10,865 | $56,316 |
| 63 | Dalton Public Schools | 12.67 | $10,773 | $44,696 |
| 64 | Mitchell County | 13.02 | $12,132 | $38,902 |
| 65 | Fannin County | 13.32 | $12,968 | $47,997 |
| 66 | Bartow County | 13.34 | $10,264 | $59,202 |
| 67 | Butts County | 13.52 | $10,971 | $43,471 |
| 68 | Wilkes County | 13.63 | $12,319 | $37,838 |
| 69 | Terrell County | 13.73 | $13,049 | $34,768 |
| 70 | Wayne County | 13.82 | $10,451 | $45,483 |
| 71 | Clayton County | 15.61 | $9,669 | $47,864 |
| 72 | Catoosa County | 15.88 | $11,273 | $56,235 |
| 73 | Lamar County | 16.08 | $10,344 | $44,846 |
| 74 | Hart County | 16.34 | $10,711 | $43,204 |
| 75 | Elbert County | 16.77 | $11,754 | $38,678 |
| 76 | Dooly County | 16.82 | $12,072 | $37,340 |
| 77 | Lanier County | 17.13 | $11,156 | $40,986 |
| 78 | Mcduffie County | 17.19 | $10,549 | $43,468 |
| 79 | Floyd County | 17.23 | $11,951 | $54,074 |
| 80 | Evans County | 18.05 | $10,658 | $42,607 |
| 81 | Quitman County | 18.08 | $18,667 | $26,667 |
| 82 | Hancock County | 18.20 | $17,427 | $31,860 |
| 83 | Murray County | 18.26 | $9,323 | $48,033 |
| 84 | Meriwether County | 18.30 | $11,954 | $37,121 |
| 85 | Worth County | 18.34 | $9,951 | $45,398 |
| 86 | Irwin County | 18.57 | $11,775 | $37,736 |
| 87 | Appling County | 18.58 | $11,153 | $40,304 |
| 88 | Dade County | 18.90 | $10,566 | $42,581 |
| 89 | Pike County | 19.26 | $9,575 | $64,878 |
| 90 | Clay County | 19.39 | $19,866 | $22,325 |
| 91 | Charlton County | 19.43 | $10,655 | $41,961 |
| 92 | Pierce County | 19.58 | $10,434 | $42,804 |
| 93 | Walton County | 19.76 | $10,275 | $62,218 |
| 94 | Monroe County | 19.98 | $12,103 | $54,754 |
| 95 | Barrow County | 20.23 | $10,298 | $62,345 |
| 96 | Savannah-Chatham County | 20.43 | $11,650 | $56,842 |
| 97 | Toombs County | 20.60 | $11,056 | $39,744 |
| 98 | Macon County | 20.60 | $12,887 | $32,161 |
| 99 | Screven County | 20.69 | $11,022 | $39,842 |
| 100 | Polk County | 20.80 | $9,790 | $44,891 |
| 101 | Schley County | 21.21 | $9,850 | $44,448 |
| 102 | Richmond County | 21.31 | $10,254 | $42,728 |
| 103 | Putnam County | 21.38 | $13,024 | $51,606 |
| 104 | Grady County | 22.54 | $9,918 | $43,531 |
| 105 | Houston County | 22.81 | $10,746 | $61,723 |
| 106 | Echols County | 22.92 | $10,849 | $39,494 |
| 107 | Coffee County | 22.97 | $10,514 | $40,859 |
| 108 | Carrollton City | 23.04 | $10,003 | $42,942 |
| 109 | Dodge County | 23.18 | $10,866 | $39,302 |
| 110 | Decatur County | 23.24 | $10,333 | $41,481 |
| 111 | Laurens County | 23.25 | $10,310 | $41,571 |
| 112 | Burke County | 23.64 | $15,085 | $44,151 |
| 113 | Chattooga County | 23.90 | $11,303 | $37,146 |
| 114 | Crisp County | 24.23 | $11,532 | $36,042 |
| 115 | Bacon County | 24.77 | $11,113 | $37,519 |
| 116 | Chattahoochee County | 24.80 | $11,379 | $36,406 |
| 117 | Stewart County | 24.83 | $18,704 | $29,732 |
| 118 | Cook County | 24.92 | $10,049 | $41,854 |
| 119 | Vidalia City | 25.02 | $10,335 | $40,621 |
| 120 | Ware County | 25.26 | $11,214 | $36,869 |
| 121 | Buford City | 25.37 | $11,499 | $59,826 |
| 122 | Washington County | 25.63 | $10,881 | $38,068 |
| 123 | Douglas County | 25.97 | $10,600 | $63,835 |
| 124 | Atkinson County | 26.13 | $11,034 | $37,197 |
| 125 | Rome City | 26.70 | $10,668 | $38,443 |
| 126 | Tattnall County | 27.16 | $10,056 | $40,756 |
| 127 | Rockdale County | 27.30 | $11,633 | $60,189 |
| 128 | Effingham County | 27.38 | $10,040 | $66,822 |
| 129 | Lee County | 27.38 | $9,447 | $69,280 |
| 130 | Sumter County | 27.47 | $11,005 | $36,681 |
| 131 | Brantley County | 27.58 | $10,466 | $38,857 |
| 132 | Thomaston-Upson County | 28.17 | $10,693 | $37,640 |
| 133 | Jenkins County | 29.10 | $13,064 | $27,375 |
| 134 | Emanuel County | 29.35 | $10,602 | $37,453 |
| 135 | Hall County | 30.41 | $10,595 | $65,972 |
| 136 | Berrien County | 30.67 | $9,734 | $40,415 |
| 137 | Colquitt County | 30.68 | $10,695 | $36,435 |
| 138 | Taylor County | 30.93 | $11,294 | $33,832 |
| 139 | Bryan County | 31.12 | $9,070 | $72,624 |
| 140 | Paulding County | 31.14 | $10,100 | $68,370 |
| 141 | Wheeler County | 31.33 | $12,127 | $30,192 |
| 142 | Seminole County | 31.81 | $11,308 | $33,357 |
| 143 | Early County | 32.30 | $11,908 | $30,640 |
| 144 | Jefferson County | 32.74 | $11,059 | $33,944 |
| 145 | Telfair County | 32.79 | $11,425 | $32,405 |
| 146 | Thomasville City | 34.33 | $11,254 | $32,378 |
| 147 | Baker County | 34.42 | $19,039 | $32,917 |
| 148 | Talbot County | 34.66 | $17,706 | $38,549 |
| 149 | Dublin City | 35.16 | $11,219 | $32,128 |
| 150 | Jeff Davis County | 35.16 | $10,122 | $36,669 |
| 151 | Trion City | 36.21 | $10,652 | $33,974 |
| 152 | Ben Hill County | 36.33 | $11,060 | $32,229 |
| 153 | Greene County | 36.76 | $14,669 | $52,129 |
| 154 | Dekalb County | 36.87 | $12,636 | $60,600 |
| 155 | Pelham City | 38.20 | $11,100 | $31,173 |
| 156 | Marietta City | 39.18 | $13,662 | $57,452 |
| 157 | Towns County | 39.25 | $15,900 | $48,219 |
| 158 | Henry County | 39.27 | $10,331 | $71,288 |
| 159 | Treutlen County | 40.03 | $10,631 | $32,241 |
| 160 | Clinch County | 40.38 | $11,697 | $27,658 |
| 161 | Jackson County | 42.38 | $10,722 | $71,150 |
| 162 | Valdosta City | 42.52 | $10,259 | $32,595 |
| 163 | Gwinnett County | 45.80 | $11,099 | $71,221 |
| 164 | Calhoun City | 46.99 | $8,972 | $35,794 |
| 165 | Coweta County | 47.00 | $10,104 | $75,913 |
| 166 | Candler County | 47.33 | $9,430 | $33,736 |
| 167 | Pickens County | 48.95 | $12,329 | $67,631 |
| 168 | Morgan County | 49.51 | $12,744 | $66,178 |
| 169 | Dawson County | 54.41 | $13,283 | $66,281 |
| 170 | Harris County | 54.41 | $10,859 | $76,319 |
| 171 | Columbia County | 56.24 | $9,616 | $82,339 |
| 172 | Cobb County | 61.33 | $10,784 | $79,930 |
| 173 | Cherokee County | 62.55 | $10,245 | $82,740 |
| 174 | Fulton County | 69.15 | $11,933 | $78,900 |
| 175 | Atlanta Public Schools | 74.69 | $17,112 | $60,092 |
| 176 | Oconee County | 79.80 | $10,297 | $90,751 |
| 177 | Fayette County | 86.87 | $11,257 | $90,145 |
| 178 | Forsyth County | 110.76 | $9,884 | $107,218 |
| 179 | City Schools Of Decatur | 134.16 | $12,851 | $106,088 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,927 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.