Best 9 Georgia School Districts for Buying a Home

If you’re looking to buy a home in Georgia, one of the most important factors to consider is the quality of schools in the area. Georgia has over 181 school districts across the state serving 1.6 million students. You want the best for your kids, so finding a home in a great Georgia school district is key.

Georgia’s Department of Education stopped releasing school district grades in 2019 as the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted educational quality. Instead, it released data on multiple performance measures, such as college performance readiness data, state testing results, and graduation rates.

Using this information and feedback from independent assessors, here are some of the best GA school districts for buying a home:

Buford City Schools

Buford City Schools ranks highly in performance and often features on top lists created by independent media. The public district serves the city of Buford, which straddles parts of Gwinnett and Hall counties. Around 5,000 students attend one of the district’s five schools.

The district’s graduation rate is 93%, and its students consistently outperform state averages on standardized tests.

Buford is a historic town northeast of Atlanta near Lake Lanier. The town is considered part of the Atlanta metro, but its location 38 miles away from downtown means it has a small-town character. It had over 17,000 residents in the 2020 Census.

Besides fishing and boating on the lake, Buford has an expansive community park, recreation center, sports complexes, and family-friendly entertainment options.

Buford residents have the option of waterfront living on Lake Lanier, developed communities, or in-town living near the charming downtown.

Oconee County Schools

Both Niche.com and School Digger ranked Oconee as the no. 1 school system in Georgia. The Oconee County School District serves around 8,100 students in 11 schools: one primary, six elementary, two middle, and two high. Six schools earned the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence distinction, and one had national distinction.

The district has a graduation rate of 98%, and 47% of its 2021 senior class took dual enrollment courses. It was the no. 5 ranked county for SAT achievement in Georgia. Notably, the district also has one of the lowest millage rates in northeast Georgia.

Oconee County is located in the northeastern part of the state near Athens, GA, and the Oconee National Forest. The rural county has around only 39,000 residents. The county seat is Watkinsville, and the county has two other cities: Bogart and Bishop. There are also nine unincorporated communities.

Residents have many outdoor recreation options, with golf clubs, rivers, lakes, and the Oconee National Forest at their doorstep. Agritourism is a big draw in the county.

Oconee County is a great place to explore if you’re interested in living a rural lifestyle without sacrificing a top-notch education for your children.

Forsyth County Schools

Forsyth County Schools is the state’s fifth largest school district, with around 50,000 students. The district has 42 schools: 23 elementary, 11 middle, eight high, and one alternative school. It has one of the lowest millage rates in the Atlanta metro.

The school district has a 95% graduation rate, and its students outperform state averages on Georgia milestones tests. It also has a highly diverse student population, with families from 129 countries.

Forsyth County is located in north Georgia about 40 miles from Atlanta. It is considered part of the Atlanta metro area and has a population of around 236,000. From 2010-2022, it was one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation.

In 2019, Georgia Trend magazine named Forsyth County the no. 1 place to live in Georgia. It is also the no. 2 safest county in Georgia, according to SafeWise.com.

The county is home to several large employers, including Verizon Wireless, Sysco Corporation, and Kubota Manufacturing of Georgia. It also has a large number of medical facilities.

Forsyth County is a great place to live if you’re looking for suburban living with quick access to the amenities of a big city. Waterfront living is available along Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River. The northern area is more rural, making it a great place for homesteads and a country lifestyle. The southern part is closer to dense suburbs like Johns Creek and Alpharetta.

Bremen City Schools

Bremen City Schools is proud of its education excellence tradition. Located in Bremen, Georgia, about 50 miles west of Atlanta, Bremen City is a rural district that has been top-ranked for many years.

The district serves around 2,300 students in four schools: one specialized academy, one elementary, one middle, and one high school. The graduation rate is 95%, and its students outperform state averages on Georgia tests.

Bremen is a charming small town with a population of around 7,000 people. It is part of Haralson and Carroll counties. The city has a historic downtown area with shops and restaurants. Atlanta is about an hour’s east on I-20.

Bremen is worth considering if you’re looking for a small-town lifestyle with excellent schools. The town has a close-knit community feel.

City Schools of Decatur

The City Schools of Decatur is a public school district located in Decatur, Georgia, about six miles east of downtown Atlanta. The district has around 5,800 students in ten schools: five K-2 primary schools, two grades 3-5 elementary, one middle, one high, and one virtual school.

The district’s graduation rate is 96%. It often ranks in the top 10 schools in Georgia for SAT performance. Its high school has been named an AP Challenge and AP Merit school.

Decatur is a historic city with a population of around 20,000 people packed into 4.7 square miles. Residents live a few miles from Atlanta downtown and east of the BeltLine. Niche.com has ranked it the best place to live in Georgia.

Along with all of the advantages of living in a big metropolis, Decatur has a classic small-town feel paired with the liveliness of a college town. Agnes Scott College and Emory University are both private four-year institutions headquartered inside the town. Woodland Gardens is popular for its trails and native gardens.

Decatur Square is the hub of activity with a farmers market, festivals, and live music.

If you want an urban lifestyle with excellent schools, Decatur should be high on your list.

Fayette County Schools

Fayette County Schools offers students a rigorous and well-rounded education. The district is headquartered in Fayetteville, Georgia, about 30 miles south of Atlanta.

It has around 19,000 students in 27 schools: 14 elementary, five middle, and five high schools, plus three non-traditional special education centers. The graduation rate is 90%.

Fayette County is a beautiful and historic area with a population of 113,557. In addition to Fayetteville, the towns of Peachtree City, Tyrone, Woolsey, and Brooks are located here. The county is the home of Georgia Military College. You’ll see signs of the area’s past in the many antebellum plantation homes as you drive around.

Fayette County is part of the Atlanta metro area, with downtown Fayetteville about 28 miles from downtown Atlanta. Residences have easy access to the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

If you’re looking for excellent schools in a beautiful and historic Georgia area, Fayette County should be at the top of your list.

Jefferson City Schools

Jefferson City Schools is located in Jefferson, Georgia, about 60 miles northeast of Atlanta. It serves around 2,700 students in four schools: one elementary, one middle, one high school, and one academy. The district has a 97% graduation rate. The high school was an AP Honor School in 2021.

Jefferson is a historic city with around 10,000 people. It is located in the Piedmont region of Georgia and is part of the Atlanta metro area. Not only is Atlanta an hour away, but Athens is about 21 miles southeast, and Lake Lanier is 23 miles north-northwest. The location makes it easy to get to top Georgia attractions.

The city is the county seat for Jackson County. It has a charming downtown area with shops and restaurants. The Jefferson Civil War Museum is one of Georgia’s best cultural museums and Civil War-era attractions.

Jefferson is worth considering if you’re looking for a small-town lifestyle with excellent schools. The town has a close-knit community feel set in the rolling hills and farm country of northeast Georgia.

Carrollton City Schools

Carrollton City Schools is located in Carrollton, Georgia, about 45 miles west of Atlanta. It’s one of the oldest city school districts in the state and has a proud tradition of educational excellence. It serves around 5,700 students in four schools built on a single campus. The schools are one lower elementary, one upper elementary, one middle, one high, and one virtual school. The district has a 92% graduation rate.

Carrollton is the county seat of Carroll County, located in Georgia’s Piedmont region. It is a historic city with around 25,000 people. Carrollton is considered part of the greater Atlanta metro area.

The city has a lively arts scene and downtown area. Two local, small colleges add to the town’s progressive character. It also has several parks and recreation facilities. The Little Tallapoosa River runs through town and beside the University of West Georgia campus.

Carrollton is worth considering if you’re looking for a small-town lifestyle not far from the Atlanta metro.

Morgan County Schools

Morgan County Schools covers Morgan County, a rural region about 60 miles northeast of Atlanta. It serves around 3,100 students in four schools: one lower elementary, one upper elementary, one middle, and one high. It also has a district-run pre-K program. The district has a 91% graduation rate. The high school was an AP Honor School in 2021.

The schools are based in Madison, a historic city with around 4,000 people. Surrounded by the rolling hills of the Piedmont region, the city is the county seat.

Madison prides itself on authentic small-town charm. Southern Living Magazine called Madison is one of the prettiest towns in the South. The large historic downtown area is alive with local shops and restaurants. It is also home to the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, a hub for the arts.

Morgan County borders the Oconee National Forest and Lake Oconee, giving residents the option of lakefront, rural, or small-town living.

Madison is worth considering if you’re looking for a rural lifestyle. The city is located 30 miles from Athens and about an hour from Atlanta.

Georgia Schools Overview

Choosing the right school district is one of the most important considerations when buying a home. Georgia has many excellent school districts with varying sizes, locations, and offerings. All have one thing in common: they provide a quality education for their students. You can easily have a top-notch education living in the country as you can inside Atlanta limits.

When you’re ready to start your search for a new home, be sure to keep these top Georgia school districts in mind.