LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — The Lee County School System is celebrating another year of achievements.

The school system says while maintaining one of the lowest per student spending rates in the state, students in Lee County also outperformed the state average in every tested area on the 2025-2026 Georgia Milestones Assessment (GMAS). Scores for math, science, and social studies were noted, while English scores will be released later in the year due to implementation of new standards and state assessment during the 2025-26 school year.

“Lee County students demonstrated strong academic performance across the board, reflecting the dedication of our schools to achieving excellence,” said the Lee County School System in a news release Friday, Aug. 14.

School officials say students in Lee County who took the GMAS End-of-Grade Assessments exceeded the state average in all subjects, and exceeded the average by double-digit percentage points in a number of areas. In particular, 3rd grade math students outpaced the state average in proficient and distinguished scores by 15%. And 5th graders outpaced the state average math score by 17%, ranking them among the top 8% of all state school districts.

LATEST NEWS FROM WALB:

Students in 8th grade taking physical science outpaced the state average by 26%; that’s up 22% from 2025 to 2026.

“We are so proud of what our middle school students accomplished this year. We continue to see growth across our schools, reflecting the hard work of our students and the commitment of teachers who challenge, support, and believe in them every day. Their continued success is something that we can all be proud of,” said John Savelle, principal of Lee County Middle School West.

Officials say Lee County scored in the top 4% of the state for U.S. history and algebra. Those history students outpaced the state average by 27%, school officials say. Students in algebra outscored other students in the state by 24%.

“Our exceptional algebra scores reflect the incredible dedication of both our students and our math faculty. Our teachers work tirelessly to ensure every student masters complex concepts, and these GMAS results prove that when high expectations meet great support, remarkable progress happens,” said Ginger Lawrence, principal of Lee County High School’s 9th grade campus.

“Showing excellence in student performance once is an accomplishment. What Lee County School System has done is demonstrate that high levels of excellence is a tradition. This kind of performance year to year demonstrates incredible investments in the success of the children in our community,” said Dr. Kathleen E.K. Truitt, superintendent of Lee County Schools.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. For more south Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.