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, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more due to the lasting impact of 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 $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Georgia has the 19th 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.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.
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 | Lowndes County | 0.08 | $9,931 | $58,623 |
| 2 | Clarke County | 0.19 | $14,362 | $40,363 |
| 3 | Heard County | 0.47 | $11,810 | $50,583 |
| 4 | Montgomery County | 0.86 | $13,130 | $44,934 |
| 5 | Liberty County | 1.62 | $11,636 | $50,728 |
| 6 | Marion County | 1.62 | $11,219 | $52,450 |
| 7 | Jasper County | 2.05 | $11,672 | $52,409 |
| 8 | Calhoun County | 2.07 | $14,202 | $41,962 |
| 9 | Banks County | 2.54 | $12,093 | $50,912 |
| 10 | Whitfield County | 2.58 | $11,385 | $51,288 |
| 11 | Haralson County | 2.58 | $12,344 | $49,895 |
| 12 | Dooly County | 3.04 | $12,848 | $48,039 |
| 13 | Franklin County | 3.06 | $12,166 | $47,821 |
| 14 | Cartersville City | 3.75 | $10,296 | $55,208 |
| 15 | Madison County | 3.97 | $12,210 | $51,142 |
| 16 | Gordon County | 4.06 | $11,148 | $51,528 |
| 17 | Warren County | 4.17 | $15,353 | $38,250 |
| 18 | Gainesville City | 4.24 | $10,610 | $53,662 |
| 19 | Lumpkin County | 4.28 | $11,828 | $52,872 |
| 20 | Oglethorpe County | 5.24 | $11,958 | $52,816 |
| 21 | Pierce County | 5.59 | $11,583 | $48,969 |
| 22 | Griffin-Spalding County | 5.64 | $11,577 | $48,970 |
| 23 | Glascock County | 5.72 | $13,544 | $46,500 |
| 24 | Chickamauga City | 5.72 | $10,260 | $60,074 |
| 25 | Twiggs County | 5.95 | $14,303 | $43,477 |
| 26 | Fannin County | 6.10 | $13,704 | $46,028 |
| 27 | Walker County | 6.16 | $12,156 | $46,318 |
| 28 | Lincoln County | 6.47 | $13,155 | $42,036 |
| 29 | Baldwin County | 6.95 | $12,077 | $46,250 |
| 30 | Thomas County | 7.03 | $12,085 | $53,181 |
| 31 | Camden County | 7.36 | $10,332 | $60,594 |
| 32 | Union County | 7.44 | $12,976 | $49,703 |
| 33 | Webster County | 8.33 | $15,449 | $31,629 |
| 34 | Rabun County | 9.30 | $14,369 | $44,871 |
| 35 | Dalton Public Schools | 9.49 | $11,615 | $46,894 |
| 36 | Glynn County | 9.71 | $11,496 | $56,952 |
| 37 | Dougherty County | 9.88 | $13,007 | $40,947 |
| 38 | Miller County | 10.28 | $13,302 | $49,771 |
| 39 | Lamar County | 10.31 | $10,744 | $50,088 |
| 40 | White County | 10.48 | $11,870 | $55,788 |
| 41 | Bulloch County | 10.68 | $11,014 | $48,786 |
| 42 | Peach County | 11.03 | $10,614 | $50,267 |
| 43 | Troup County | 11.06 | $11,450 | $46,796 |
| 44 | Crawford County | 11.18 | $11,164 | $47,917 |
| 45 | Floyd County | 11.44 | $11,935 | $55,999 |
| 46 | Muscogee County | 11.53 | $11,404 | $46,749 |
| 47 | Evans County | 11.79 | $11,460 | $46,392 |
| 48 | Gilmer County | 11.85 | $11,651 | $57,376 |
| 49 | Habersham County | 12.00 | $12,451 | $54,147 |
| 50 | Butts County | 12.35 | $10,935 | $48,282 |
| 51 | McDuffie County | 12.48 | $11,150 | $47,327 |
| 52 | Bleckley County | 12.52 | $11,226 | $46,992 |
| 53 | Hart County | 12.59 | $11,488 | $45,874 |
| 54 | Bibb County | 12.91 | $12,552 | $41,317 |
| 55 | Newton County | 13.09 | $11,365 | $59,178 |
| 56 | Meriwether County | 13.15 | $12,656 | $40,769 |
| 57 | Clayton County | 13.42 | $10,521 | $49,460 |
| 58 | Randolph County | 13.50 | $15,365 | $29,400 |
| 59 | Carroll County | 13.78 | $10,681 | $62,347 |
| 60 | Buford City | 13.86 | $11,949 | $57,147 |
| 61 | Murray County | 14.09 | $10,035 | $51,133 |
| 62 | Catoosa County | 14.49 | $11,593 | $58,932 |
| 63 | Worth County | 14.65 | $10,021 | $50,913 |
| 64 | Johnson County | 14.99 | $12,035 | $42,421 |
| 65 | Schley County | 15.02 | $10,414 | $49,105 |
| 66 | Pike County | 15.18 | $9,449 | $68,138 |
| 67 | Irwin County | 15.51 | $12,199 | $41,484 |
| 68 | Brooks County | 16.12 | $13,085 | $37,516 |
| 69 | Barrow County | 16.27 | $10,826 | $62,990 |
| 70 | Jones County | 16.28 | $10,813 | $63,046 |
| 71 | Stephens County | 16.69 | $10,779 | $46,766 |
| 72 | Putnam County | 16.81 | $13,329 | $52,910 |
| 73 | Savannah-Chatham County | 16.82 | $12,163 | $57,739 |
| 74 | Long County | 16.89 | $9,464 | $52,099 |
| 75 | Grady County | 16.91 | $10,442 | $48,047 |
| 76 | Lee County | 17.02 | $9,622 | $68,338 |
| 77 | Echols County | 17.04 | $11,296 | $44,454 |
| 78 | Commerce City | 17.30 | $11,124 | $45,034 |
| 79 | Macon County | 17.70 | $14,251 | $31,910 |
| 80 | Burke County | 17.96 | $15,213 | $45,699 |
| 81 | Wilkinson County | 18.11 | $12,995 | $36,896 |
| 82 | Tift County | 18.12 | $11,075 | $44,827 |
| 83 | Wilcox County | 18.42 | $12,397 | $39,216 |
| 84 | Turner County | 18.69 | $13,502 | $34,514 |
| 85 | McIntosh County | 18.81 | $12,760 | $56,262 |
| 86 | Seminole County | 18.97 | $13,281 | $35,286 |
| 87 | Bartow County | 19.11 | $11,265 | $62,588 |
| 88 | Wayne County | 19.27 | $10,708 | $45,773 |
| 89 | Talbot County | 19.60 | $16,784 | $40,020 |
| 90 | Terrell County | 19.65 | $13,187 | $35,335 |
| 91 | Walton County | 19.89 | $10,659 | $65,482 |
| 92 | Charlton County | 20.03 | $11,349 | $42,743 |
| 93 | Richmond County | 20.34 | $11,036 | $43,882 |
| 94 | Wilkes County | 20.47 | $12,810 | $36,486 |
| 95 | Effingham County | 20.57 | $10,362 | $67,050 |
| 96 | Polk County | 21.30 | $10,204 | $46,846 |
| 97 | Thomasville City | 21.52 | $12,308 | $38,040 |
| 98 | Jefferson City | 21.92 | $9,625 | $70,766 |
| 99 | Clinch County | 22.00 | $12,055 | $38,844 |
| 100 | Pulaski County | 22.14 | $11,223 | $42,213 |
| 101 | Dodge County | 22.33 | $11,201 | $42,211 |
| 102 | Early County | 22.35 | $12,989 | $34,811 |
| 103 | Coffee County | 22.44 | $11,111 | $42,526 |
| 104 | Elbert County | 22.92 | $11,828 | $39,323 |
| 105 | Quitman County | 23.34 | $18,597 | $34,394 |
| 106 | Jefferson County | 23.71 | $12,293 | $37,009 |
| 107 | Laurens County | 23.83 | $11,105 | $41,862 |
| 108 | Tattnall County | 24.27 | $10,506 | $44,118 |
| 109 | Houston County | 24.29 | $11,095 | $65,870 |
| 110 | Monroe County | 24.34 | $12,403 | $60,491 |
| 111 | Vidalia City | 24.66 | $10,334 | $44,635 |
| 112 | Douglas County | 24.66 | $10,709 | $67,651 |
| 113 | Crisp County | 24.68 | $11,871 | $38,272 |
| 114 | Carrollton City | 25.33 | $10,228 | $44,736 |
| 115 | Decatur County | 25.53 | $11,213 | $40,567 |
| 116 | Bremen City | 25.94 | $10,658 | $68,500 |
| 117 | Rome City | 26.10 | $11,526 | $38,987 |
| 118 | Rockdale County | 26.15 | $12,134 | $62,505 |
| 119 | Chattooga County | 26.34 | $11,717 | $38,081 |
| 120 | Baker County | 26.43 | $19,056 | $34,034 |
| 121 | Screven County | 26.43 | $11,277 | $39,852 |
| 122 | Mitchell County | 26.62 | $16,996 | $42,642 |
| 123 | Ware County | 26.90 | $11,901 | $37,041 |
| 124 | Emanuel County | 27.00 | $11,555 | $38,423 |
| 125 | Appling County | 27.11 | $11,662 | $37,924 |
| 126 | Thomaston-Upson County | 27.60 | $11,289 | $39,221 |
| 127 | Hall County | 27.94 | $11,118 | $67,595 |
| 128 | Hancock County | 28.69 | $19,600 | $32,914 |
| 129 | Bacon County | 28.76 | $11,761 | $36,692 |
| 130 | Toombs County | 29.71 | $10,759 | $40,359 |
| 131 | Wheeler County | 29.77 | $13,534 | $28,864 |
| 132 | Dade County | 29.96 | $10,723 | $40,384 |
| 133 | Cook County | 29.97 | $10,587 | $40,943 |
| 134 | Henry County | 29.98 | $10,514 | $71,110 |
| 135 | Stewart County | 29.99 | $19,486 | $34,028 |
| 136 | Social Circle City | 30.33 | $11,876 | $65,655 |
| 137 | Berrien County | 31.09 | $10,175 | $42,089 |
| 138 | Sumter County | 32.21 | $11,229 | $37,174 |
| 139 | Atkinson County | 32.57 | $11,541 | $35,703 |
| 140 | Colquitt County | 33.08 | $11,215 | $36,799 |
| 141 | Bryan County | 33.66 | $9,745 | $76,121 |
| 142 | Washington County | 34.11 | $11,186 | $36,402 |
| 143 | Dublin City | 34.40 | $12,194 | $32,095 |
| 144 | Telfair County | 34.57 | $12,011 | $32,764 |
| 145 | Greene County | 34.82 | $14,298 | $57,880 |
| 146 | DeKalb County | 35.25 | $13,088 | $63,093 |
| 147 | Paulding County | 35.37 | $10,427 | $74,154 |
| 148 | Taylor County | 35.44 | $12,926 | $28,550 |
| 149 | Ben Hill County | 36.04 | $12,000 | $32,077 |
| 150 | Marietta City | 36.53 | $14,089 | $59,594 |
| 151 | Clay County | 37.34 | $20,758 | $32,434 |
| 152 | Brantley County | 37.76 | $11,164 | $34,679 |
| 153 | Jackson County | 37.81 | $11,157 | $72,348 |
| 154 | Pelham City | 38.48 | $11,928 | $31,158 |
| 155 | Jenkins County | 39.62 | $13,109 | $25,712 |
| 156 | Jeff Davis County | 40.28 | $10,301 | $36,987 |
| 157 | Lanier County | 40.45 | $11,449 | $32,158 |
| 158 | Gwinnett County | 40.63 | $11,327 | $73,054 |
| 159 | Treutlen County | 40.70 | $11,440 | $32,072 |
| 160 | Candler County | 40.72 | $10,256 | $36,955 |
| 161 | Morgan County | 41.09 | $12,443 | $68,669 |
| 162 | Pickens County | 41.57 | $12,575 | $68,365 |
| 163 | Towns County | 41.72 | $16,732 | $51,257 |
| 164 | Valdosta City | 44.34 | $10,636 | $33,583 |
| 165 | Trion City | 44.53 | $10,779 | $32,898 |
| 166 | Calhoun City | 46.37 | $9,482 | $37,342 |
| 167 | Columbia County | 48.33 | $10,029 | $82,251 |
| 168 | Coweta County | 49.97 | $10,821 | $79,795 |
| 169 | Harris County | 52.78 | $11,144 | $79,860 |
| 170 | Chattahoochee County | 55.75 | $11,346 | $24,961 |
| 171 | Cherokee County | 60.53 | $10,879 | $84,817 |
| 172 | Dawson County | 61.40 | $14,022 | $72,260 |
| 173 | Cobb County | 61.94 | $11,494 | $82,980 |
| 174 | Fulton County | 67.43 | $12,404 | $81,953 |
| 175 | Atlanta Public Schools | 72.76 | $17,289 | $64,415 |
| 176 | Oconee County | 80.98 | $10,865 | $95,064 |
| 177 | Fayette County | 84.81 | $11,637 | $93,777 |
| 178 | Forsyth County | 111.83 | $10,283 | $112,834 |
| 179 | City Schools Of Decatur | 144.12 | $13,744 | $114,615 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,876 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 of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.