Jones County, GA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Jones County

Jones County Schools serves a small student population across a rural county in central Georgia, with a traditional grade-structure spanning pre-K through 12. The district operates seven schools across towns including Gray and Macon, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly through elementary grades and concentrated in middle and high school.

The district's student body is majority white, with a substantial Black student population and smaller percentages of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students. Free or reduced price lunch data was not available, limiting a full picture of economic need in the district. Special education and English learner enrollment counts were also not reported.

On state assessments, proficiency rates are modest across tested grades and subjects. In math, third graders perform near the midpoint, fourth graders slightly above midpoint, but proficiency declines sharply in sixth grade before recovering somewhat in seventh and eighth grades. English language arts follows a similar pattern: third through fifth graders cluster in the low-to-mid range, sixth grade dips further, then seventh and eighth grades improve slightly. Science proficiency in fifth grade sits above the midpoint; eighth-grade science is notably lower. Eighth-grade social studies proficiency sits near the midpoint. The data shows only one school year, so trend analysis is not possible; a parent may want to look into whether recent changes have begun to move these results.

The district has undergone structural shifts in recent years. A 2021 voter-approved penny sales tax enabled the district to move ninth-grade students from a separate academy into Jones County High School, consolidating the high school to grades 9-12. More recently, the district launched SPARK Academy, a joint advanced pathway at the middle school level across two schools, designed to serve high-achieving students. This adds a gifted-track option for families seeking academic acceleration in the middle grades.

In early 2026, Jones County implemented centralized K-12 enrollment through the Central Office, replacing individual school registration. This administrative change affects every family entering the district, as prior school-by-school registration is no longer an option.

Housing in the county is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks. Home values are moderate, with weighted valuations in the mid-range and modest year-over-year appreciation. Rental housing is limited in reported data, though what is available reflects modest costs. The area is positioned as affordable for families with moderate household incomes.

Given the modest proficiency rates across elementary and middle grades, families considering the district should seek specific information from individual schools about instructional supports, intervention programs, and how the district is addressing areas where fewer students are meeting grade-level standards. The SPARK Academy initiative signals an effort to serve high-achieving students, which may be of interest to families with advanced learners, but overall academic profile suggests this is a district still building stronger performance across its student population.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,994

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 26%

White 66%

Asian 0%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

Gray Elementary School

Jones County High School

Dames Ferry Elementary School

Clifton Ridge Middle School

Mattie Wells Elementary School

Gray Station Middle School

Turner Woods Elementary School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

57%

Grade 4

42%

Grade 5

31%

Grade 6

44%

Grade 7

52%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

46%

Grade 4

44%

Grade 5

39%

Grade 6

50%

Grade 7

41%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

53%

Grade 5

41%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

47%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$234,007

Year-over-year change+3.0%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$98K to $320K

vs. state typical0.70x

vs. national typical0.64x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
31032	Gray	$277K	+1.6%	40.4%
31038	Hillsboro	$234K	+7.4%	16.5%
31033	Haddock	$227K	+6.1%	15.2%
31217	Macon	$98K	-1.6%	10.9%
31211	Macon	$173K	+1.4%	9.2%
31046	Juliette	$320K	+3.2%	6.4%
31031	Gordon	$140K	+5.4%	1.4%
31061	Milledgeville	$244K	+5.7%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,168/mo

Year-over-year change+14.7%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,168 to $1,301/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
31217	Macon	$1,168	+14.7%	10.9%
31061	Milledgeville	$1,301	+1.7%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,181/mo

Home price / national median income2.8x

Annual rent / national median income16.7%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$13/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.