Glynn County, GA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Glynn County

Glynn County Schools serves a mid-sized K-12 population across a coastal Georgia area that includes Brunswick, Saint Simons Island, and surrounding communities. The district stretches across several zip codes ranging from modest-income neighborhoods in central Brunswick to more affluent barrier island areas, and this economic mix shows in both the housing values and the student composition.

The academic picture here is below state midpoint across most tested subjects and grade levels. In English language arts, proficiency rates run in the low forties across middle grades, with third grade notably lower. Math proficiency sits slightly higher, hovering near the mid-forties in elementary and middle grades, though performance dips again by sixth grade. Science proficiency is mixed: fifth grade students meet or exceed the overall district rate, but eighth grade science performance drops noticeably. Social studies proficiency at eighth grade is among the softer numbers in the district's profile. These patterns suggest students are not consistently reaching mastery benchmarks as they move through the system, and a parent may want to look into the specific supports and interventions available in schools where their child would learn, as well as the district's strategic response to these results.

The enrollment is substantial for a coastal district, spread across seventeen schools from elementary through high school. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse: roughly one-third of students are Black, roughly two-fifths are white, and a smaller but meaningful share are Hispanic or Asian. The district does not report free-and-reduced-price-lunch rates or English learner numbers in this data, so families seeking clarity on the socioeconomic profile or ELL services should contact the district directly.

Housing affordability is a defining context. Median home values in the district's zip codes are moderate compared to state and national figures, though there is wide variation: oceanfront and island properties command significantly higher prices, while central Brunswick neighborhoods are considerably more affordable. Rental options are available and more stable in cost. The mortgage-to-income ratio is above the national benchmark, meaning homeownership takes up a larger slice of household budgets here than average. This is a community where housing options exist at multiple price points, but upward pressure on real estate values is modest and inventory is diverse.

In the near term, the district secured voter approval in November 2024 for ESPLOST V, a continuation of the local education sales tax dedicated to facility improvements, technology, transportation, and debt service through roughly the end of the decade. This kind of capital authorization matters to families wondering about building conditions and whether the district is poised for reinvestment or deferred maintenance. The district is moving forward with renewed resources for infrastructure.

A significant pedagogy change took effect in the 2025-2026 school year: Glynn County extended Georgia's Distraction-Free Education Act ban on personal electronic devices beyond the state requirement. Students in all grades K-12 must now store phones, smartwatches, earbuds, tablets, and e-readers away during class, hallways, and recess. The state only mandates this through eighth grade, but the district chose to apply the same rules to high school for consistency. Enforcement is tiered, beginning with verbal warnings and escalating to parent pickup for repeat violations. This is a deliberate cultural shift intended to reduce distraction in classrooms and affects how families communicate with their children during school hours.

A third development affecting long-term household finances: Glynn County did not opt out of Georgia's new homestead exemption, which caps annual tax increases on homesteaded properties to the inflation rate, effective January 2025. Combined with the existing local exemption, property owners now have multiple homestead pathways to choose from. This has a material effect on property tax bills after purchase and is worth understanding if you are considering buying in the district.

Glynn County presents as a working- and middle-income coastal district with below-target test proficiency, moderate housing diversity and affordability, and a leadership team actively investing in facilities and implementing classroom management changes. The academic foundation is the most substantial consideration for families evaluating whether the schools match their expectations and their child's needs.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

12,714

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 17%

Black 33%

White 43%

Asian 1%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

17 schools are officially reported under this district.

Oglethorpe Point Elementary School

Glyndale Elementary School

Jane Macon Middle

St. Simons Elementary School

Altama Elementary School

Goodyear Elementary School

Glynn Middle

Glynn Academy

Burroughs-Molette Elementary School

Brunswick High School

Golden Isles Elementary School

Satilla Marsh Elementary School

Greer Elementary School

Needwood Middle School

Sterling Elementary School

Morningstar Treatment Services- Inc. Youth Estate

Risley Middle School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

46%

Grade 3

50%

Grade 4

45%

Grade 5

44%

Grade 6

44%

Grade 7

49%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

34%

Grade 3

40%

Grade 4

42%

Grade 5

43%

Grade 6

41%

Grade 7

42%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

45%

Grade 5

35%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

38%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$405,085

Year-over-year change-0.5%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$147K to $4.3M

vs. state typical1.21x

vs. national typical1.10x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
31523	Brunswick	$329K	-0.7%	47.7%
31525	Brunswick	$279K	-0.6%	24.5%
31522	Saint Simons Island	$686K	+1.4%	13.3%
31520	Brunswick	$147K	-12.2%	5.0%
31543	Hortense	$196K	+8.7%	3.3%
31527		$773K	+4.5%	2.4%
31566	Waynesville	$174K	+0.7%	2.2%
31561		$4.3M	+1.9%	1.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,834/mo

Year-over-year change-0.1%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,524 to $2,389/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
31525	Brunswick	$1,596	-0.7%	24.5%
31522	Saint Simons Island	$2,389	+0.3%	13.3%
31520	Brunswick	$1,524	+1.6%	5.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,044/mo

Home price / national median income4.8x

Annual rent / national median income26.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$210/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$333,559 (-1.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.