Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Dougherty County

Georgia · Public School District
22
Schools
13,043
Students
$16,606
Per-Pupil Spend
+16% nat'l
100.0%
Free Lunch Rate
+48pp vs nat'l
86.8%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Dougherty County is a public school district in Georgia serving 13,043 students across 22 schools. It includes 14 elementary, 4 middle, 4 high schools. Its graduation rate of 86.8% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $16,606 is above average for a US public school district. 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 31/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (22)
Middle Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Albany Middle School06–08833
Merry Acres Middle School06–08764
Radium Springs Middle School06–08919
Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet06–08529
High Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Dougherty Comprehensive High School09–121,204
Monroe High School09–121,078
South Georgia Regional Achievement Center- The Phoenix06–1247
Westover High School09–121,360
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,606+16% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
43%
30%
State
42.8%
Local (property tax)
29.8%
Federal
27.4%

Funding is shared between state (43%) and local sources (30%), with notable federal support (27%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
22
Schools
13,043
Students
100%
Free Lunch
$17K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate86.8%
Opportunity Score31/100
StateGeorgia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $16,606 per pupil — 16% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 22 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 31/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
27% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Dougherty County?
Dougherty County has 22 public schools, serving a total of 13,043 students.
What is the graduation rate for Dougherty County?
The graduation rate is 86.8%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Dougherty County spend per student?
Dougherty County spends $16,606 per pupil — 16% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Dougherty County?
100% of students in Dougherty County qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Dougherty County?
No, Dougherty County does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Dougherty County serve?
Dougherty County serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Dougherty County?
The median opportunity score across schools in Dougherty County is 31/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
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.