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B−

Whitfield County School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 3 towns

Serves Varnell, Tunnel Hill and Cohutta.

Varnell’s School Grade B− better than 51% of Georgia school districts

Students
11,942
Schools
22
Spent per student
$14,458
GA $15,800
Students per teacher
13:1
Free or reduced lunch
91%
The gist

What stands out about Whitfield County School District

  • Its letter, B−: results better than 51% of Georgia districts
  • Spends 8% less per student than the GA average
  • 13 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 5.4% since 2020–21
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B−: better than 51% of the 220 Georgia school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math close to the state, 2021–22
B
GraduationFour-year graduation close to the state, class of 2023
C−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
B−Varnell 2,295B−Tunnel Hill 1,004Cohutta 865

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Varnell. Grade by grade →

K–5Varnell Elementary SchoolThis district
6–85 middle schoolsThis district
9–124 high schoolsThis district

Test scores vs. GA

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency38%
State average 37.4% · 6,512 students tested
Reading / language arts37%
State average 39.6% · 6,332 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)85%
State average 84.4% · 1,006 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$14,458 per student · 8% below GA
Spending
Classroom instruction 59%Support & administration 33%Other 8%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 34%State 55%Federal 12%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
12,619’20
12,448’21
12,317’22
12,151’23
11,942’24

Down 5.4% since 2020–21.

Students
White 47%Hispanic 47%Two or more races 3%Black 2%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

22 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Georgia’s other public schools.

Eastside Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dalton
C+
579 students12:1
Westside Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Rocky Face
A−
549 students13:1
Beaverdale Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dalton
B
488 students12:1
Valley Point Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dalton
C+
469 students12:1
Pleasant Grove Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dalton
B+
451 students12:1
Antioch Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dalton
B+
446 students11:1
Dawnville Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dalton
C+
413 students12:1
Cedar Ridge Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dalton
C+
399 students12:1
Dug Gap Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dalton
B+
356 students12:1
Cohutta Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cohutta
A
287 students13:1
New Hope Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Dalton
B+
511 students14:1
Varnell Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Dalton
B+
350 students13:1
Tunnel Hill Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Tunnel Hill
A−
297 students14:1
North Whitfield Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dalton
A−
731 students13:1
Eastbrook Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dalton
C+
624 students13:1
New Hope Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dalton
A−
454 students13:1
Westside Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Rocky Face
A−
428 students14:1
Valley Point Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dalton
B
377 students12:1
Southeast Whitfield County High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Dalton
C+
1,453 students16:1
Northwest Whitfield County High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Tunnel Hill
B−
1,098 students15:1
Coahulla Creek High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Dalton
B−
1,041 students18:1
Phoenix High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Dalton
D
141 students14:1

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Georgia.