Original Research by School Decision on Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center
Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center is a state-operated alternative school serving students in grades five through twelve who are in the custody of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. The facility is located in Dalton, northwest Georgia.
The school currently serves a very small enrollment, reflecting the population and purpose of a detention facility. The student body is diverse, with students from multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds. No data on socioeconomic status or participation in federal free or reduced-price meal programs was available. Information about special education enrollment and services, as well as English learner population, was not reported.
State testing data on proficiency in math, English language arts, science, and social studies was not available for this school. The testing data the state received shows extremely small numbers of students assessed in any given grade and subject—one or two students per grade level per subject—which reflects the small and transient population typical of a detention setting. Under these circumstances, the state does not report proficiency rates; the data exists but remains suppressed. A parent or guardian seeking information about academic performance in this setting would need to speak directly with school staff, as standardized test results do not provide the full picture of instruction or student progress in an alternative detention school.
The facility has no graduation rate on file, a typical gap for schools serving incarcerated youth; students move through the facility on individual timelines tied to their legal status and release, not on a traditional grade-progression calendar.
Elbert Shaw is not a school of choice. It serves students placed there through the juvenile justice system. For families or youth advocates seeking to understand the educational environment, the facility's small size, specialized mission, and connection to detention mean that direct conversation with school leadership about curriculum, behavioral supports, reentry planning, and connection to community resources is the appropriate next step.
See more original research from School Decision →