Best Schools in Valdosta, Georgia
27 schools · 14 Elementary · 5 Middle · 2 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Valdosta?
Use this page to compare every school in Valdosta 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.
Clyattville Elementary School
Elementary · Lowndes County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pine Grove Elementary School
Elementary · Lowndes County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pine Grove Middle School
Middle · Lowndes County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Valdosta for 2026 are Clyattville Elementary School (8.6/10), Pine Grove Elementary School (8.6/10), and Pine Grove Middle School (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 23 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
27
17 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$173,867
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
27
17 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$173,867
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.6/10 despite 81% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 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 Valdosta schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Valdosta schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Valdosta
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (23 of 27). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clyattville Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Pine Grove Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Pine Grove Middle School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Westside Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Dewar Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Moulton-branch Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 7 | St John Catholic School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Scintilla Charter Academy | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Lowndes Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Crossroads Baptist School | 6.8 / 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
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $54,939
- Median home value
- $173,867
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 27%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 52%
39% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Valdosta compares
Georgia rank
#149 of 240
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Georgia avg (6.3)
Median household income
$55k
79% of Georgia median
Schools in this city
23
About Schools in Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta's public school landscape spans 17 ranked schools with a citywide average of 6.6 out of 10 — a middle-of-the-road baseline that masks real variation at the top end. Seven of those 17 schools, 41%, score 7 or higher, giving families a meaningful cluster of strong options to target.
The top performer is Scintilla Charter Academy, scoring 8.5 out of 10 — the highest mark in the city by a full point over the next tier. Two elementary schools follow closely: Pine Grove Elementary at 8.4 and Clyattville Elementary at 8.3. Westside Elementary (8.1) and Dewar Elementary (7.7) round out the top five. Every school in that upper tier is either elementary or charter level, which means parents of younger children have the strongest concentration of high-scoring options to choose from.
The 41% rate of schools clearing a 7-plus threshold is a useful number when comparing Valdosta against other Georgia cities of similar size. Nearly half the ranked schools exceed that mark, which means the city punches above what its 6.6 average implies. That said, the two-point spread between the citywide average and the top school is real — where a child is assigned or enrolled makes a measurable difference in Valdosta. School selection is not a minor variable here.
For parents actively searching, the elementary tier is the clear starting point. The top five schools all sit at that level, so families with younger children have the clearest path to high-rated placements. Scintilla Charter Academy likely requires a separate application and may operate a lottery, so plan ahead on timing. For middle and high school grades, the top-rated options thin out, and parents should weight school scores alongside program depth, extracurricular offerings, and access to advanced coursework before committing to a neighborhood or enrollment decision.
Elementary Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 597 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 645 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 926 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 4 | 863 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 5 | 550 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 6 | 1,097 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.2 |
| 7 | 917 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.1 |
| 8 | 537 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.0 |
| 9 | 940 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.2 |
| 10 | 572 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.2 |
Show all 14 elementary schools in Valdosta
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 697 students · 6th–8th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 822 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 1,071 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 | ||
| 4 | 776 students · 6th–8th | 3.2 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Valdosta Christian Academy
Private
10 students · 1st–8th | — | ||
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,210 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 2,496 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 |
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 856 students · Kindergarten–9th | 7.3 | ||
| Private Schools 5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Highland Christian Academy
Private
184 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 2 | Lighthouse Christian School
Private
32 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 3 | Open Bible Christian School
Private
139 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 4 | Georgia Christian School
Private
310 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.7 | ||
| 5 | Victory Christian School
Private
29 students · Pre-K–12th | — | ||
Schools in Valdosta
Valdosta, Georgia · 27 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$54,939
Median Home Value
$173,867
Median Rent
$1,049/mo
Population
91,122
College Educated
27%
Homeownership
52%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
22.6%
Community Profile
Valdosta has a median household income of $54,939. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $173,867, with a median rent of $1,049/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.6%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Georgia
- Elementary
- 14
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 2
- Other
- 6
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 Valdosta, Georgia
How many schools are in Valdosta, Georgia?
Valdosta has 27 schools, including 17 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Valdosta, Georgia?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Valdosta is 6.0 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 Valdosta, Georgia?
The top-ranked school in Valdosta on MySchoolScout is Clyattville Elementary School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Valdosta, Georgia?
The top-ranked elementary school in Valdosta on MySchoolScout is Clyattville Elementary School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Valdosta, Georgia?
The top-ranked middle school in Valdosta on MySchoolScout is Pine Grove Middle School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best high school in Valdosta, Georgia?
The top-ranked high school in Valdosta on MySchoolScout is Lowndes High School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Valdosta, Georgia?
Valdosta is served by 3 school districts: State Specialty Schools I- Scintilla Charter Academy, Lowndes County, Valdosta City.
What is the education level in Valdosta, Georgia?
According to Census data, 27% of adults in Valdosta have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Valdosta, Georgia?
The median household income in Valdosta is approximately $54,939 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Valdosta, Georgia?
Yes, Valdosta has 10 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is St John Catholic School with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Valdosta, Georgia?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Valdosta is 16.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Valdosta, 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.