Tift County, GA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Tift County

Tift County Schools serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve across the county in south-central Georgia. The district enrolls a substantial student body with nearly equal shares of white and Black students, significant Hispanic enrollment, and smaller populations of Asian and multiracial students. Free-and-reduced-price lunch data was not available, though the district's demographics suggest meaningful economic diversity within its communities.

State testing results from the most recent year show proficiency rates that run below the state benchmark across core subjects. In English language arts, proficiency in grades three through eight hovers around one-third of students. Mathematics proficiency is similarly low in the elementary grades, though grade eight shows slightly stronger results. Science proficiency in grades five and eight sits in the upper-thirty to low-forty percent range. Eighth-grade social studies proficiency stands at about one-third. The testing snapshot reflects academic challenges in foundational skills that warrant attention from families considering the district.

A graduation rate was not reported in the available data, so a parent may want to look into the four-year completion rate directly with the district. Similarly, data on chronic absenteeism, staffing levels, and discipline were not available.

The district is undergoing significant structural change. A new high school campus is under construction adjacent to Tift County High School, expected to open in fall 2027, with expanded career and technical education pathways in agriculture, healthcare, engineering, business, and construction, plus expanded fine arts, world languages, and athletic facilities. This multi-year project represents a material shift in the high school experience for students who will enroll after the opening.

At the same time, the district has made property tax adjustments. The millage rate for 2025 declined from the prior year, a meaningful reduction for homeowners. Tift County Schools has also opted out of Georgia's statewide floating homestead exemption enacted in 2024; families buying homes in the district should understand that while this preserves the district's local tax base, homeowners will not receive the assessed-value cap that homeowners in opting-in districts do. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all students in the district will receive meals at no charge.

The school day was lengthened beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, with students starting earlier and ending later than before. This shift affects daily family schedules, transportation, and childcare planning on an ongoing basis.

The district's eleven schools span elementary through high school. Housing values in the county range across several price points, with a modest year-over-year rise overall. Families considering Tift County should weigh the district's current academic performance, its concrete plans for high school transformation, and the interplay of property tax and meal-cost changes as they assess fit and long-term household impact.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

7,631

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 20%

Black 37%

White 37%

Asian 2%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

G. O. Bailey Elementary School

Annie Belle Clark Elementary School

Northside Elementary School

Len Lastinger Elementary School

J. T. Reddick Elementary School

Charles Spencer Elementary School

Matt Wilson Elementary School

Omega Elementary School

Northeast Middle School

Tift County High School

Eighth Street Middle School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

39%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

35%

Grade 5

31%

Grade 6

31%

Grade 7

50%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

28%

Grade 3

32%

Grade 4

33%

Grade 5

32%

Grade 6

32%

Grade 7

32%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

38%

Grade 5

37%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

36%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$219,630

Year-over-year change+2.0%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$133K to $274K

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
31794	Tifton	$185K	+2.0%	39.8%
31793	Tifton	$274K	+2.6%	35.8%
31733	Chula	$267K	+5.2%	8.0%
31775	Omega	$155K	-0.9%	6.3%
31795	Ty Ty	$175K	-1.9%	4.8%
31749	Enigma	$163K	-1.2%	2.0%
31637	Tifton	$155K	+0.5%	2.0%
31790	Sycamore	$163K	-1.0%	0.7%
31714	Ashburn	$133K	+1.0%	0.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,108/mo

Home price / national median income2.6x

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.