Lamar 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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Barnesville, Georgia - 4 schools

An equity score of 19/100 ranks Lamar County #209 of 216 districts in Georgia (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,838 per pupil, Lamar County ranks #197 of 219 Georgia districts by per-pupil spending (Georgia districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,820
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$11,838
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lamar County operates 4 public schools serving 2,820 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Georgia. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Lamar County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,838 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 37.6% local, 49.2% state, and 13.2% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 19/100, ranked #209 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 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 718:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 23.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 58.3% White, 30.9% African American, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Lamar County Primary School, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.

Its largest campus is Lamar County High School, enrolling 831 students (29% of the district's total enrollment).

Lamar County High School accounts for 28.9% of all Lamar County student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Lamar County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Lamar County reports 52.4% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Lamar County student-counselor ratio is 718:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

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 Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Lamar County chronic absenteeism rate is 23.6% — 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 Lamar County is typically wider than the Lamar County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

13.2%
Federal
49.2%
State
37.6%
Local

Funding Equity

19
Equity Score
209 / 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 4 schools in Lamar County.

White 58.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.7%
African American 30.9%
Multiracial 5.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 55.8/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Lamar County Primary School 56.9
  2. 2 Lamar County High School 56.4
  3. 3 Lamar County Elementary School 55.7
  4. 4 Lamar County Middle School 54.3

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
718:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Lamar County

School Enrollment
Lamar County High School
831
Lamar County Primary School
746
Lamar County Elementary School
662
Lamar County Middle School
633

How Lamar County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Georgia districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Washington County Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Thomasville City Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Fannin County Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Banks County Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Dodge County Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Lamar 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 · $14,348/pupil
Compare vs Lamar County →
Cobb County
106,703 students · 110 schools · $14,680/pupil
Compare vs Lamar County →
Dekalb County
92,368 students · 131 schools · $15,368/pupil
Compare vs Lamar County →
Fulton County
89,935 students · 108 schools · $15,183/pupil
Compare vs Lamar County →
Forsyth County
54,077 students · 42 schools · $11,993/pupil
Compare vs Lamar County →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Lamar 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 Lamar County?

Lamar County has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 2,820 students.

How much does Lamar County spend per student?

Lamar County spends $11,838 per student. The district has an equity score of 19/100, ranking #209 in Georgia.

What is the demographic composition of Lamar County?

Lamar County students are 58.3% White, 30.9% African American, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lamar County?

Lamar County has an equity score of 19/100, ranking #209 out of 216 districts in Georgia.