Wilkes County

Washington, Georgia — 4 schools

1,265
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$16,363
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wilkes County operates 4 public schools serving 1,265 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Georgia. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,262 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Wilkes County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,363 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 36.9% local, 37.6% state, and 25.5% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $72,799 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 61/100, ranked #68 of 216 in Georgia against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 315.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 27.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 48.8% African American, 34.0% White, 10.8% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School accounts for 29.2% of all Wilkes County student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Wilkes County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

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

Wilkes County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 81.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Wilkes County student-counselor ratio is 316:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within Wilkes County is typically wider than the Wilkes County-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Wilkes County chronic absenteeism rate is 27.9% — 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 Wilkes County is typically wider than the Wilkes 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?

25.5%
Federal
37.6%
State
36.9%
Local

Funding Equity

61
Equity Score
68 / 216
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Wilkes County county, where this district is located.

$765
Studio/mo
$770
1 BR/mo
$973
2 BR/mo
$1,261
3 BR/mo
$1,395
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$72,799
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Wilkes County.

White 34.0%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
African American 48.8%
Multiracial 5.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
315.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
27.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Wilkes County

School Enrollment
Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School
368
Washington-Wilkes Primary School
365
Washington-Wilkes Middle School
285
Washington-Wilkes Elementary School
244

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 · $14,002/pupil
Compare vs Wilkes County →
Cobb County
106,703 students · 110 schools · $14,611/pupil
Compare vs Wilkes County →
DeKalb County
92,368 students · 131 schools · $16,212/pupil
Compare vs Wilkes County →
Fulton County
89,935 students · 108 schools · $15,569/pupil
Compare vs Wilkes County →
Forsyth County
54,077 students · 42 schools · $12,614/pupil
Compare vs Wilkes County →

Compare Wilkes 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 Wilkes County?

Wilkes County has 4 schools, including 1 high, 2 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,265 students.

How much does Wilkes County spend per student?

Wilkes County spends $16,363 per student. The district has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #68 in Georgia.

What is the average teacher salary in Wilkes County?

The average teacher salary in Wilkes County is $72,799 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Wilkes County?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wilkes County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Wilkes County?

Wilkes County students are 48.8% African American, 34.0% White, 10.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wilkes County?

Wilkes County has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #68 out of 216 districts in Georgia. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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