Lowndes County, GA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Lowndes County

Lowndes County Schools serves a mid-sized student population spanning pre-K through twelfth grade across eleven schools: five elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school, along with a pre-K program and an alternative site. The district's enrollment skews toward the elementary end, with higher numbers in the lower grades that taper somewhat by high school. The student body is roughly evenly divided between white students and students of color, with Black students and Hispanic students each representing substantial portions of enrollment, and smaller populations of Asian, multiracial, and Native American students.

Free and reduced price lunch data was not available from the state source, so a parent cannot assess the share of students in economic need from these records alone. The district's per-pupil spending falls in the lower range compared to the other district in Lowndes County, which may merit further conversation with the school system about priorities and resource allocation.

Academic performance across the district shows a mixed picture. In math, proficiency rates span the mid-range, with upper elementary grades and middle grades performing in the mid-to-high range and lower elementary grades slightly below. English language arts proficiency is below math across nearly all tested grades, clustering in the mid-range for grades four through eight, with grade three notably lower. Science proficiency in fifth grade exceeds other subjects, while eighth-grade science dips below the ELA range. Social studies proficiency in eighth grade sits at the moderate level. No state testing data exists for high school grades, as Georgia's end-of-grade assessments apply to elementary and middle school only.

When compared to the other district in Lowndes County on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, Lowndes County Schools sits above the midpoint. On chronic absenteeism, the district's rate is above the midpoint among county districts, meaning attendance is lower than the median. No graduation rate was reported, likely because state systems publish that metric separately from the district assessment database at this time.

The district's facilities are in active transformation. Voters approved an Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax renewal in 2023, funding a multi-year capital program that includes replacement and construction of schools, HVAC replacement, technology upgrades, textbooks, and athletic and vocational equipment. Lake Park Elementary School is under active construction with a brand-new facility in progress, while Dewar Elementary is receiving a substantial classroom wing and gymnasium addition that was nearing completion as of recent reporting.

The district recently implemented a cell phone and personal device restriction during instructional time, consistent with Georgia's Distraction-Free Education Act. This shift in classroom management is part of the environment families will encounter if they enroll students here.

Housing values in the district's service area are moderate, with a weighted median home value in the low-to-mid range. Rental costs are also moderate, and the rental-to-income ratio sits near the national benchmark, suggesting affordability is comparable to national patterns. The mortgage-to-income calculation shows housing remains moderately priced relative to area incomes.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

10,580

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 13%

Black 24%

White 56%

Asian 1%

Two+ 6%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

Moulton-Branch Elementary School

Lowndes High School

Lake Park Elementary School

Hahira Middle School

Hahira Elementary School

Lowndes Middle School

Clyattville Elementary School

Pine Grove Elementary School

Dewar Elementary

Westside Elementary School

Pine Grove Middle School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

61%

Grade 3

66%

Grade 4

60%

Grade 5

55%

Grade 6

56%

Grade 7

65%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

43%

Grade 3

48%

Grade 4

52%

Grade 5

54%

Grade 6

49%

Grade 7

53%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

64%

Grade 5

52%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

57%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$220,552

Year-over-year change+0.3%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$123K to $301K

vs. state typical0.66x

vs. national typical0.60x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
31601	Valdosta	$123K	-5.0%	30.7%
31632		$301K	+2.7%	19.3%
31636	Valdosta	$263K	+2.4%	15.7%
31641	Naylor	$255K	+4.8%	11.3%
31605	Valdosta	$257K	+2.5%	9.1%
31606	Valdosta	$231K	-0.2%	9.0%
31602	Valdosta	$209K	+4.1%	2.6%
31645	Ray City	$223K	+4.2%	1.3%
31635	Lakeland	$209K	+5.7%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,403/mo

Year-over-year change+6.7%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$1,027 to $1,921/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
31601	Valdosta	$1,027	+7.6%	30.7%
31632		$1,921	—	19.3%
31605	Valdosta	$1,611	+5.0%	9.1%
31602	Valdosta	$1,270	+2.2%	2.6%
31635	Lakeland	$1,650	—	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,113/mo

Home price / national median income2.6x

Annual rent / national median income20.1%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$290/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.