Best Schools in Waycross, Georgia
12 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Waycross?
Use this page to compare every school in Waycross 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.
Center Elementary School
Elementary · Ware County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ruskin Elementary School
Elementary · Ware County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ware County Middle School
Middle · Ware County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Waycross for 2026 are Center Elementary School (8.3/10), Ruskin Elementary School (8.1/10), and Ware County Middle School (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 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
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$104,050
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$104,050
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 80% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Waycross schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Waycross schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Waycross
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Center Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Ruskin Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Ware County Middle School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Waycross Middle School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Memorial Drive Elementary School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Ware County High School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Waresboro Elementary School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Williams Heights Elementary School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Wacona Elementary School | 4.8 / 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
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $46,123
- Median home value
- $104,050
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 15%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
40% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Waycross compares
Georgia rank
#87 of 243
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Georgia avg (6.3)
Median household income
$46k
66% of Georgia median
Schools in this city
10
Ware County runs 90% of Waycross's public schools
Waycross touches 2 districts, but Ware County is the one most addresses actually attend.
Ware County accounts for 9 of 10 public schools (90%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 9 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.8 to 8.3 — the spread is inside Waycross, not a citywide average.
- Ware County9 public · 90%
- Department of Juvenile Justice1 public · 10%
About Schools in Waycross, Georgia
Waycross, Georgia has 9 ranked public schools — a compact landscape that makes side-by-side comparison straightforward. The city's average school score sits at 7.0 out of 10, and 56% of schools clear the 7.0 mark, meaning the majority of options here land in solid or better territory. That's a useful baseline: Waycross is not a tale of one standout surrounded by low performers — it's a market where several schools are genuinely competitive.
Elementary education is where Waycross concentrates its strongest options. Ruskin Elementary leads the city at 9.4 out of 10, the top score among all ranked schools here. Waresboro Elementary follows at 9.0, putting two elementary schools in the top tier. Memorial Drive Elementary (7.8) and Center Elementary (7.2) round out the upper half of the elementary tier. Parents with children in grades K–5 have real choices at multiple quality levels, including two schools that would rank as high performers in most peer cities.
The secondary picture is more limited. Ware County High School scores 7.4 out of 10 — above the city average and above the majority of its ranked peers — but it is the only high school in this dataset. That means families don't face a choice of high schools; they're evaluating a single institution. At 7.4, Ware County High is a credible option, but parents focused on high school should dig into specific program offerings, graduation rates, and AP or dual-enrollment access to get a complete picture beyond the composite score.
Practically speaking, Waycross rewards parents who focus their research at the elementary level, where the quality spread is widest and the top options are genuinely strong. If Ruskin or Waresboro Elementary fall within your attendance zone, those are among the highest-performing schools in this market. For families with high-schoolers, Ware County High is the path forward — the score is above average, but it's worth verifying which programs align with your student's goals before committing to a neighborhood.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 470 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 374 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 | ||
| 3 | 372 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 420 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 | ||
| 5 | 436 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 6 | 963 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 11 students · Pre-K–4th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 739 students · 6th–8th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 585 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,618 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
| 2 | 12 students · 5th–12th | — |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 116 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Waycross
Waycross, Georgia · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$46,123
Median Home Value
$104,050
Median Rent
$788/mo
Population
36,207
College Educated
15%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
24.1%
Community Profile
Waycross has a median household income of $46,123. It is a community where 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $104,050, with a median rent of $788/month. The area has a poverty rate of 24.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Georgia
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
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 Waycross, Georgia
How many schools are in Waycross, Georgia?
Waycross has 12 schools, including 10 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Waycross, Georgia?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Waycross is 6.6 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 Waycross, Georgia?
The top-ranked school in Waycross on MySchoolScout is Center Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Waycross, Georgia?
The top-ranked elementary school in Waycross on MySchoolScout is Center Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Waycross, Georgia?
The top-ranked middle school in Waycross on MySchoolScout is Ware County Middle School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best high school in Waycross, Georgia?
The top-ranked high school in Waycross on MySchoolScout is Ware County High School with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve Waycross, Georgia?
Waycross is served by 2 school districts: Department of Juvenile Justice, Ware County.
What is the education level in Waycross, Georgia?
According to Census data, 15% of adults in Waycross have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Waycross, Georgia?
The median household income in Waycross is approximately $46,123 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Waycross, Georgia?
Yes, Waycross has 2 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Southside Baptist Church & Christian School with a score of 6.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waycross, Georgia?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Waycross is 10.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Waycross, 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.