Best Schools in Tifton, Georgia
12 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Tifton?
Use this page to compare every school in Tifton 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.
Len Lastinger Elementary School
Elementary · Tift County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Northside Elementary School
Elementary · Tift County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Eighth Street Middle School
Middle · Tift County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Tifton for 2026 are Len Lastinger Elementary School (8.0/10), Northside Elementary School (7.8/10), and Eighth Street Middle School (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 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
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$150,750
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$150,750
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 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 Tifton schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Tifton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Tifton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Len Lastinger Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Northside Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Eighth Street Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Northeast Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Tift County High School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | G. O. Bailey Elementary School | 4.5 / 10 |
| 7 | J. T. Reddick Elementary School | 4.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Annie Belle Clark Elementary School | 4.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Matt Wilson Elementary School | 4.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Charles Spencer Elementary School | 3.2 / 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
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $61,794
- Median home value
- $150,750
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Tifton compares
Georgia rank
#184 of 243
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Georgia avg (6.3)
Median household income
$62k
88% of Georgia median
Schools in this city
11
Tift County runs Tifton's public schools
10 public schools. Tift County is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Tifton is a Tift County school (10 of 10).
Among 10 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.2 to 8.0 — the spread is inside Tifton, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Tifton, Georgia
Tifton's public school system spans 10 ranked schools with an average score of 6.3 out of 10 — a solid foundation anchored by a strong elementary tier. Half of Tifton's ranked schools score 7 or above, which is a meaningful concentration of above-average performance for a city of this size. The elementary level is where Tifton's schools shine brightest: G. O. Bailey Elementary leads the city at 8.1 out of 10, the highest score in the district, while Matt Wilson Elementary follows at 7.8 and Len Lastinger Elementary holds a 7.1. Parents of younger children have three legitimately strong elementary options within the same district — a rare position in smaller Georgia cities.
The middle school picture is steady but narrower. Northeast Middle School scores 7.5, placing it among the city's top five schools and within range of the elementary leaders. Eighth Street Middle School lands at 7.0, just clearing the above-average threshold. Together, the two middle schools give families a consistent bridge between Tifton's strong elementary experience and the high school years. The spread between Tifton's best and its average (8.1 versus 6.3) signals real differentiation across schools — families willing to pay attention to school boundaries and choice options will find meaningful variation worth researching.
For parents comparing Tifton against other small Georgia cities, the 50% rate of 7-plus-scoring schools is a useful benchmark. Many comparably sized markets cluster their averages closer to 5 or 6 with only one standout school. Tifton's distribution is healthier: the top schools are genuinely strong, and the floor is not dramatically low. The city is served entirely by Tifton City Schools, so families in most neighborhoods share the same district policies and transfer processes.
Practically speaking, parents arriving in Tifton for the first time should anchor their search at the elementary level, where the quality ceiling is highest, and plan ahead for the middle school transition. Checking school attendance boundaries early is especially important given the performance gap between the top and the city-wide average — where you live in Tifton matters for which school your child attends.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 450 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 | ||
| 2 | 445 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 3 | 549 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 4 | 344 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.4 | ||
| 5 | 788 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.2 | ||
| 6 | 408 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.2 | ||
| 7 | 397 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.2 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 14 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 925 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 739 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,266 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence School of TiftonPrivate 66 students · Pre-K–10th | Not Rated |
Schools in Tifton
Tifton, Georgia · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$61,794
Median Home Value
$150,750
Median Rent
$787/mo
Population
37,461
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Community Profile
Tifton has a median household income of $61,794. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $150,750, with a median rent of $787/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.7%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Georgia
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
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 Tifton, Georgia
How many schools are in Tifton, Georgia?
Tifton has 12 schools, including 10 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Tifton, Georgia?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Tifton is 5.8 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 Tifton, Georgia?
The top-ranked school in Tifton on MySchoolScout is Len Lastinger Elementary School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Tifton, Georgia?
The top-ranked elementary school in Tifton on MySchoolScout is Len Lastinger Elementary School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Tifton, Georgia?
The top-ranked middle school in Tifton on MySchoolScout is Eighth Street Middle School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best high school in Tifton, Georgia?
The top-ranked high school in Tifton on MySchoolScout is Tift County High School with a composite score of 6.2/10.
How many school districts serve Tifton, Georgia?
Tifton is served by 1 school district: Tift County.
What is the education level in Tifton, Georgia?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Tifton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Tifton, Georgia?
The median household income in Tifton is approximately $61,794 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Tifton, Georgia?
Yes, Tifton has 2 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Providence School of Tifton with a score of 6.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Tifton, Georgia?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Tifton is 12.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Tifton, 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.
Related reading
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- The $1,700 Loophole: How the New Federal School Choice Tax Credit Lowers Private Tuition Billsschool choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
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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.