Forsyth County

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Cumming, Georgia - 42 schools

An equity score of 7/100 ranks Forsyth County #216 of 216 districts in Georgia (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,928 per pupil, Forsyth County ranks #202 of 219 Georgia districts by per-pupil spending (Georgia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

54,077
Total Enrollment
42
Schools
$10,928
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Forsyth County operates 42 public schools serving 54,077 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Georgia. The school portfolio breaks down into 23 combined, 11 middle, 8 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Forsyth County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,928 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 22 of 219 Georgia districts by per-pupil spending. See how Georgia compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 54.6% local, 38.4% state, and 7.0% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 7/100, ranked #216 of 216 in Georgia against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 8 of 42 schools offering Advanced Placement (205 AP courses district-wide), a 484.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 17.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 41.4% White, 35.8% Asian, 14.3% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Brandywine Elementary School, with a diversity index of 72.4/100.

Its largest campus is Lambert High School, enrolling 3,249 students (6% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Settles Bridge Elementary School, at 741 students, a 4x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Forsyth County school enrollment varies 4.4× across entities

Forsyth County school enrollment ranges from 741 students (lowest) to 3,249 students (highest), a spread of 2,508 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Forsyth County student-counselor ratio is 484:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Forsyth County chronic absenteeism rate is 17.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Forsyth County is typically wider than the Forsyth County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.0%
Federal
38.4%
State
54.6%
Local

Funding Equity

7
Equity Score
216 / 216
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 42 schools in Forsyth County.

White 41.4%
Hispanic or Latino 14.3%
African American 4.3%
Asian 35.8%
Multiracial 3.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 59.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Forsyth County's schools, above the Georgia average of 50.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Brandywine Elementary School 72.4
  2. 2 Denmark High School 71.2
  3. 3 George W. Whitlow Elementary 70.5
  4. 4 Otwell Middle School 69.1
  5. 5 Mashburn Elementary School 67.3

Programs & Resources

8 / 42
Schools with AP
205 AP courses total
484.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Forsyth County

School Enrollment
Lambert High School
3,249
South Forsyth High School
2,634
Denmark High School
2,527
West Forsyth High School
2,503
Forsyth Central High School
2,457
North Forsyth High School
2,151
Sawnee Elementary School
1,591
East Forsyth High School
1,588
Lakeside Middle School
1,513
Riverwatch Middle School
1,455
Poole's Mill Elementary
1,384
Hendricks Middle School
1,376
South Forsyth Middle School
1,319
Desana Middle School
1,278
Liberty Middle School
1,256
George W. Whitlow Elementary
1,247
New Hope Elementary School
1,175
Matt Elementary School
1,171
North Forsyth Middle School
1,164
Chestatee Elementary
1,159
Alliance Academy for Innovation
1,145
Silver City Elementary School
1,142
Kelly Mill Elementary
1,104
Otwell Middle School
1,062
Vickery Creek Middle School
1,058
Piney Grove Middle School
1,024
Midway Elementary School
1,022
Vickery Creek Elementary School
982
Mashburn Elementary School
976
Brandywine Elementary School
968
Shiloh Point Elementary
955
Haw Creek Elementary
926
Little Mill Middle School
916
Cumming Elementary School
900
Johns Creek Elementary
888
Daves Creek Elementary School
881
Sharon Elementary School
865
Chattahoochee Elementary School
810
Brookwood Elementary
810
Coal Mountain Elementary School
747
Big Creek Elementary School
745
Settles Bridge Elementary School
741

How Forsyth County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Georgia districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Clayton County Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Atlanta Public Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Henry County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Cherokee County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Savannah-Chatham County Smaller Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Forsyth County's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Georgia

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Gwinnett County
181,814 students · 140 schools · $13,113/pupil
Compare vs Forsyth County →
Cobb County
106,703 students · 110 schools · $13,203/pupil
Compare vs Forsyth County →
Dekalb County
92,368 students · 131 schools · $15,594/pupil
Compare vs Forsyth County →
Fulton County
89,935 students · 108 schools · $13,999/pupil
Compare vs Forsyth County →
Clayton County
52,186 students · 67 schools · $12,136/pupil
Compare vs Forsyth County →

Compare Forsyth County

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Gwinnett County →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Forsyth County?

Forsyth County has 42 schools, including 8 high, 23 combined, 11 middle. Total enrollment is 54,077 students.

How much does Forsyth County spend per student?

Forsyth County spends $10,928 per student. The district has an equity score of 7/100, ranking #216 in Georgia.

What is the demographic composition of Forsyth County?

Forsyth County students are 41.4% White, 35.8% Asian, 14.3% Hispanic or Latino, 4.3% African American, averaged across 42 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Forsyth County?

Forsyth County has an equity score of 7/100, ranking #216 out of 216 districts in Georgia.