schoolsbycounty

Whitfield County Schools & Education

School Score

36/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

84.3%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

84.3%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,398

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,405

School Score

36/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 50/100

State Score Position

#129

of 159 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Whitfield County

Measured School Summary

Whitfield County faces educational challenges with a school score of 36/100 and a graduation rate of 84.3%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,398 per pupil, Whitfield County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 29% below the Georgia average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Whitfield County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

33 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

36/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #129 of 159 Georgia counties with school score data.

Completion

84.3%

3.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,398

roughly matches the state average

School coverage

33

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Whitfield County has 33 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Whitfield County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Whitfield County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 22 of 33 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#129

of 159 Georgia counties with school score data. The county score is 14 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Whitfield County

Elementary to high school visible

12,317 students

Elementary 13Middle 5High 4Other 0

22 listed schools in this county slice.

Dalton Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

7,675 students

Elementary 6Middle 1High 2Other 1

10 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Whitfield County is the largest listed district slice, with 22 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Whitfield County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Whitfield County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Whitfield County, Georgia

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Large-Scale Education in North Georgia

Whitfield County manages a robust network of 33 public schools serving nearly 20,000 students. The system includes 19 elementary schools, six middle schools, and six high schools. This extensive infrastructure is split between two primary school districts.

Two Districts Serving Different Communities

The Whitfield County district is the largest, serving 12,317 students across 22 schools. Dalton Public Schools manages 10 schools with a total enrollment of 7,675. There are no charter schools in the county, as the two traditional districts handle all student needs.

Diverse Urban and Rural Settings

Schools are spread across 14 rural, 11 city, and 8 suburban locales, offering a wide range of learning environments. Southeast Whitfield County High is the largest school with 1,492 students. The average school size is 606 students, providing a balance between large-scale resources and community focus.

School Overview

Total Schools

33

in Whitfield County

Reported Enrollment

19,999

33 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary19
Middle6
High6
Other2

33 Public Schools in Whitfield County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 6 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 33 matching schools

Southeast Whitfield County High School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30721 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High1,492 students

Dalton High School

Dalton Public Schools

Dalton, 30720 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,382 students

Northwest Whitfield County High School

Whitfield County

Tunnel Hill, 30755 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,219 students

Dalton Jr. High School

Dalton Public Schools

Dalton, 30721 / City: Small

Profile8–9Other1,162 students

Hammond Creek Middle School

Dalton Public Schools

Dalton, 30721 / City: Small

Profile6–8Middle1,086 students

Coahulla Creek High School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30721 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High986 students

North Whitfield Middle School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30721 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle815 students

Brookwood Elementary School

Dalton Public Schools

Dalton, 30720 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary724 students

City Park Elementary School

Dalton Public Schools

Dalton, 30720 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary699 students

Eastbrook Middle School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30721 / Suburb: Small

Record6–8Middle680 students

Blue Ridge Elementary School

Dalton Public Schools

Dalton, 30721 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary642 students

Westwood Elementary School

Dalton Public Schools

Dalton, 30720 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary579 students

Park Creek Elementary School

Dalton Public Schools

Dalton, 30721 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary576 students

Westside Elementary School

Whitfield County

Rocky Face, 30740 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary556 students

Eastside Elementary School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30721 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary546 students

New Hope Elementary School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30720 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary511 students

Beaverdale Elementary School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30721 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary496 students

Valley Point Elementary School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30720 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary493 students

Antioch Elementary School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30721 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary464 students

New Hope Middle School

Whitfield County

Dalton, 30720 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle452 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,398

State avg $7,405

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Whitfield County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Georgia counties have the highest graduation rates?
Oconee County (98.0%), Bleckley County (97.0%), and Haralson County (97.0%) currently lead Georgia among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Georgia?
Across Georgia counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,405. The highest current county values are Towns County ($10,107), Burke County ($9,829), and Quitman County ($9,756). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Whitfield County?
Whitfield County has a school score of 36/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Whitfield County?
The high school graduation rate in Whitfield County is 84.3%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Whitfield County spend per student?
Whitfield County spends $7,398 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Whitfield County, Georgia — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Whitfield County, Georgia?

Whitfield County manages a robust network of 33 public schools serving nearly 20,000 students. The system includes 19 elementary schools, six middle schools, and six high schools. This extensive infrastructure is split between two primary school districts.

What are the major school districts in Whitfield County, Georgia?

The Whitfield County district is the largest, serving 12,317 students across 22 schools. Dalton Public Schools manages 10 schools with a total enrollment of 7,675. There are no charter schools in the county, as the two traditional districts handle all student needs.

What is the school experience like in Whitfield County?

Schools are spread across 14 rural, 11 city, and 8 suburban locales, offering a wide range of learning environments. Southeast Whitfield County High is the largest school with 1,492 students. The average school size is 606 students, providing a balance between large-scale resources and community focus.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.