Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 10 schools in district

The Dalton Academy

1250 Cross Plains Train, Dalton, GA 30721Dalton Public Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 10–12Non-Charter
402
Students
Total enrolled
$15,490
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 8% vs nat'l
11.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 25% vs nat'l
38/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 23% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 402 students in grades 10–12 in Dalton, Georgia.
Near-average funding
District spends $15,490 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 38th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

The Dalton Academy is a mid-sized high in Dalton, Georgia, serving grades 10–12 with 402 students. The district invests $15,490 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 67% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 38/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at The Dalton Academy

402
Total Students
11.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
67%
Free Lunch
35
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (10–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution177 male · 225 female
44%
56%
Male 44%Female 56%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility67%
National avg 52% · 268 students
Student Composition
10%
82%
Asian1%
White10%
Hispanic / Latino82%
Black4%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 130162004422

Academic Outcomes at The Dalton Academy

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
38
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 38th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 21th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 30721

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,490Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,490
State avg
$15,679
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,816
Student Support$2,943
Administration$1,859
Operations$2,324
Other$1,549
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,490 spent per student, an estimated $6,862 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
44%
36%
State government
44.1%
Local (property tax)
36.1%
Federal programs
19.8%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Brookwood Elementary SchoolCity Park Elementary SchoolBlue Ridge Elementary SchoolWestwood Elementary School
+2 more
↓
Middle
Hammond Creek Middle School
↓
High School
Dalton High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelHigh
Grades10 – 12
Location—
CountyWhitfield County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictDalton Public Schools →
Phone: (706)876-4700
NCES ID: 130162004422
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Dalton seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Dalton Public Schools
High
Dalton High School
1,382 students · 09–12
55% FRL
Other
Dalton Jr. High School
1,162 students · 08–09
● 38 opp64% FRL
Mid
Hammond Creek Middle School
1,086 students · 06–08
● 38 opp72% FRL
Elem
Brookwood Elementary School
724 students · PK–05
57% FRL
Elem
City Park Elementary School
699 students · PK–05
89% FRL
Elem
Blue Ridge Elementary School
642 students · PK–05
● 38 opp87% FRL
Elem
Westwood Elementary School
579 students · PK–05
64% FRL
Elem
Park Creek Elementary School
576 students · PK–05
● 38 opp90% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
1250 Cross Plains Train, Dalton, GA 30721
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.