Whitfield County, GA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Whitfield County

Whitfield County Schools serves students from early childhood through grade twelve across a district that spans multiple communities in northwest Georgia. The district's enrollment is distributed evenly across most grade levels, with particularly strong numbers in the high school years.

Testing proficiency in the district shows consistent patterns across elementary and middle grades. In math, students in the fourth and eighth grades reach proficiency rates around the midpoint, while fifth and sixth grade students score below that, with third grade also showing modest results. English language arts follows a similar trajectory, with sixth grade performing somewhat better than other grades but still well below proficiency for most students. Science and social studies proficiency rates trail further; eighth grade science is especially low. These results paint a picture of foundational skill gaps that begin in the earliest tested grades and persist through the middle years.

The district's population is notably diverse. Hispanic students represent a substantial share of enrollment, while white students comprise a similar portion. A small but meaningful number of students belong to other racial and ethnic groups. Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, but enrollment and demographic information suggests a mix of family economic circumstances across the district.

The housing market in the district areas shows modest affordability relative to national benchmarks. Home values vary across the county's zip codes, with some areas notably more expensive than others. Rental markets are tighter, with limited data available, though the one reported rental value suggests monthly housing costs that align with regional patterns. The price-to-income ratio sits above the national median, meaning a typical home purchase requires a meaningful share of household income.

Recent district decisions reflect active capital investment and budget changes. Voters approved a five-year education sales tax in 2022 that has funded facility renovations at multiple elementary and middle schools, as well as athletic facility upgrades at the three high schools. The district also opened two replacement middle schools in recent years, bringing modern security systems and building infrastructure to facilities that previously housed aging structures. At the same time, the district has raised its property tax millage rate after holding it flat for over a decade, with increases in both 2023 and 2024 that directly affect homeowner tax bills. The district opened a new central office in 2024 by repurposing an older school building.

The district operates a full range of schools, from multiple elementary buildings serving distinct neighborhoods to three high schools and several middle schools spread across the county. The structure allows students to attend school relatively close to home while maintaining a district-wide system.

Academic proficiency remains the primary challenge for parents to assess carefully. The testing data suggests students would benefit from focused intervention in core subjects, particularly in grades where proficiency falls well below half of students meeting standards. A parent may want to look into further details with the district about intervention strategies, tutoring support, and individual school performance variation, since district-level results may mask differences among individual schools.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

12,151

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 46%

Black 2%

White 48%

Asian 1%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

22 schools are officially reported under this district.

Phoenix High School

Eastbrook Middle School

Southeast Whitfield County High School

Northwest Whitfield County High School

Westside Middle School

Valley Point Middle School

North Whitfield Middle School

Tunnel Hill Elementary School

Valley Point Elementary School

Dug Gap Elementary School

Dawnville Elementary School

Westside Elementary School

Pleasant Grove Elementary School

Cohutta Elementary School

Varnell Elementary School

Eastside Elementary School

Antioch Elementary School

New Hope Elementary School

New Hope Middle School

Beaverdale Elementary School

Cedar Ridge Elementary

Coahulla Creek High School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

43%

Grade 3

51%

Grade 4

38%

Grade 5

37%

Grade 6

41%

Grade 7

50%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

34%

Grade 3

36%

Grade 4

38%

Grade 5

41%

Grade 6

34%

Grade 7

38%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

34%

Grade 5

30%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

31%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$262,463

Year-over-year change+2.4%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$235K to $316K

vs. state typical0.79x

vs. national typical0.71x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
30721	Dalton	$235K	+3.3%	41.7%
30710		$306K	+2.3%	17.3%
30740	Rocky Face	$285K	+0.3%	16.6%
30720	Dalton	$269K	+2.5%	14.1%
30755	Tunnel Hill	$242K	+1.6%	7.2%
30735	Industrial	$255K	+3.2%	1.6%
30736	Ringgold	$316K	+1.6%	1.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,710/mo

Year-over-year change+5.0%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
30736	Ringgold	$1,710	+5.0%	1.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,324/mo

Home price / national median income3.1x

Annual rent / national median income24.5%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$385/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.