Whitfield County School District
School District · Dalton, Georgia
Avg Rating
7.2
out of 10
Schools
22
13 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
12,151
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
Avg Rating
7.2
out of 10
Schools
22
13 elem, 5 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
12,151
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
Evaluating Whitfield County?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Whitfield County as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
New Hope Middle School
Dalton · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Dug Gap Elementary School
Dalton · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Westside Middle School
Rocky Face · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Georgia rank
#49 of 179
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.9
above Georgia avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,284
$844 vs Georgia median
District size
12,151 students
Much larger than Georgia median
The short answer
Whitfield County ranks #49 of 179 Georgia districts by overall school rating. Whitfield County's schools with real test data average 7.2/10 across 22 schools. Its top-rated schools are New Hope Middle School (8.5/10), Dug Gap Elementary School (8.5/10), and Westside Middle School (8.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.5/10 despite 84% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 Whitfield County schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +20.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Whitfield County schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Whitfield County
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (22 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hope Middle School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Dug Gap Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Westside Middle School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Tunnel Hill Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Cohutta Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Pleasant Grove Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 7 | New Hope Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Beaverdale Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Valley Point Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Varnell Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
See all 22 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Whitfield County
Whitfield County is a Dalton, Georgia school district serving 22 schools.The district educates 12,151 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.4:1. District-level spending was $13,284 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.2/10, Whitfield County is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Dug Gap Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.5/10.
In standardized testing, Whitfield County students show an average math proficiency of 50.3% and ELA proficiency of 54.2%.
The district includes 13 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Whitfield County, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Whitfield County with test data.
Schools in Whitfield County
22 schoolsElementary Schools13
Middle Schools5
District Details
- State
- Georgia
- City
- Dalton
- Total Enrollment
- 12,151
- Teachers (FTE)
- 907
- District spending per student
- $13,284NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 18.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Whitfield County?
Whitfield County has 22 schools in total — 13 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Whitfield County?
The average composite rating for Whitfield County is 7.2/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Whitfield County?
Whitfield County's district-level spending was $13,284 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Whitfield County?
The average student-teacher ratio in Whitfield County is 13.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Whitfield County?
Dug Gap Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Whitfield County with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What are the test scores in Whitfield County?
Across schools in Whitfield County with test data, the average math proficiency is 50.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 54.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Whitfield County compare to other districts in Georgia?
Whitfield County has an average school rating of 7.2/10 across 22 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Georgia by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 50.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 54.2%
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 rateOther School Districts in GA
Compare Whitfield County with neighboring districts in the state.
- Gwinnett County (140)
- Dekalb County (131)
- Cobb County (110)
- Fulton County (106)
- Atlanta Public Schools (87)
- Clayton County (67)
- Savannah-chatham County (58)
- Muscogee County (53)
- Henry County (50)
- Richmond County (50)
- Forsyth County (42)
- Cherokee County (37)
- Hall County (37)
- Houston County (37)
- Bibb County (35)
- Douglas County (35)
- Paulding County (33)
- Columbia County (30)
- Coweta County (29)
- Department of Juvenile Justice (28)
- Carroll County (24)
- Fayette County (24)
- Dougherty County (22)
- Newton County (22)
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.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.