Best Schools in Canton, Georgia
25 schools · 16 Elementary · 4 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Canton?
Use this page to compare every school in Canton by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Avery Elementary School
Elementary · Cherokee County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Hickory Flat Elementary School
Elementary · Cherokee County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Indian Knoll Elementary
Elementary · Cherokee County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Canton for 2026 are Avery Elementary School (8.5/10), Hickory Flat Elementary School (8.4/10), and Indian Knoll Elementary (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 22 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
25
20 public · 5 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$424,200
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
25
20 public · 5 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$424,200
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 24% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Canton schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Canton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Canton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (22 of 25). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avery Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Hickory Flat Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Indian Knoll Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Clayton Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Sixes Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Macedonia Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Liberty Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Holly Springs Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Free Home Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 10 | J. Knox Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.0/10
- Median household income
- $105,515
- Median home value
- $424,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 37%
- Avg commute
- 32 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 75%
55% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Canton compares
Georgia rank
#73 of 240
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.8
above Georgia avg (6.3)
Median household income
$106k
151% of Georgia median
Schools in this city
22
About Schools in Canton, Georgia
Canton's public school landscape spans 20 ranked schools with an average score of 6.6 out of 10 — a solid mid-range baseline that masks meaningful variation across individual campuses. Parents willing to research specific schools will find real upside: 9 of those 20 schools, or 45%, clear the 7-out-of-10 mark, which is a stronger concentration of high performers than many comparable Georgia cities can claim.
The elementary tier is where Canton shines. Clayton Elementary School leads the city with an 8.9 score, making it one of the standout elementary schools in the region. J. Knox Elementary follows at 8.7, and William G. Hasty Sr. Elementary posts an 8.2 — giving parents three strong options at the elementary level before their children reach middle school. Avery Elementary rounds out the top five at 7.7, so the depth at the elementary tier is genuine, not a single outlier. For families with young children, Canton's feeder schools are a legitimate asset.
The secondary picture is narrower. Sequoyah High School scores 7.7 — respectable and above the city average, but it's the only high school in the ranked set with a top-five finish, so parents of older students have fewer differentiated options to compare. How a student performs through the elementary tier matters here, because the path through Canton's upper grades runs through a smaller number of schools.
Practically speaking, Canton rewards address-level research. With a 6.6 city average and nearly half the schools above 7.0, the gap between the strongest and weakest campuses is wide enough that school assignment at a given address can shift the educational experience substantially. Families prioritizing academic performance should verify their specific feeder school before committing to a neighborhood — Clayton and Knox in particular are worth checking against district boundary maps. Parents targeting the top tier of Canton's schools will find consistent options, especially if elementary performance is the immediate priority.
Elementary Schools
16 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,132 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 2 | 924 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
| 3 | 896 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 4 | 313 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 5 | 734 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 6 | 734 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 7 | 954 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 8 | 775 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 9 | 299 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 10 | 892 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
Show all 16 elementary schools in Canton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,483 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 1,484 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 3 | 904 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 4 | 1,552 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,121 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 2,101 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 |
| 3 | 3,011 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 |
| 4 | 194 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 183 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.4 |
Schools in Canton
Canton, Georgia · 25 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$105,515
Median Home Value
$424,200
Median Rent
$1,697/mo
Population
113,639
College Educated
37%
Homeownership
75%
Avg Commute
32 min
Poverty Rate
5.8%
Community Profile
Canton has a median household income of $105,515. It is an area where 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $424,200, with a median rent of $1,697/month. The local poverty rate of 5.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Georgia
- Elementary
- 16
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 4
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Georgia
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Canton, Georgia
How many schools are in Canton, Georgia?
Canton has 25 schools, including 20 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Canton, Georgia?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Canton is 7.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Canton, Georgia?
The top-ranked school in Canton on MySchoolScout is Avery Elementary School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Canton, Georgia?
The top-ranked elementary school in Canton on MySchoolScout is Avery Elementary School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Canton, Georgia?
The top-ranked middle school in Canton on MySchoolScout is Dean Rusk Middle School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best high school in Canton, Georgia?
The top-ranked high school in Canton on MySchoolScout is Creekview High School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
How many school districts serve Canton, Georgia?
Canton is served by 2 school districts: State Specialty Schools I- Cherokee Charter Academy, Cherokee County.
What is the education level in Canton, Georgia?
According to Census data, 37% of adults in Canton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Canton, Georgia?
The median household income in Canton is approximately $105,515 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Canton, Georgia?
Yes, Canton has 5 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is Canton Homeschool Resources and the Haven Academy with a score of 6.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Canton, Georgia?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Canton is 13.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Canton, Georgia?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Georgia Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.