Pierce County High School is recognized by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement as the number one public high school district in Georgia.
The school had a banner 2024-2025 school year, posting a 95.9 percent graduation rate and ranked among the very best schools in Georgia for End-of-Course testing. Both accomplishments earned the school its rating as the number one public high school district in the state by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA).
The nearly 96% graduation rate represents an improvement of nearly 2% from the 93.86% rate achieved in 2024 and stands as one of the highest in school history. It is well above the state average of 87.2%.
For Principal Kelly Murray, the milestone is more than just a number — it’s a reflection of years of dedication from students, families and teachers.
“We work very hard to ensure excellence is the standard in everything we do at PCHS. Last year's graduation rate and test scores are a testament to that effort,” Murray said. “Our staff, students, parents and community all play an important role in these successes. It really does take all of us working together to get these kinds of results.'
Pierce County High students didn’t just graduate in record numbers — they also excelled academically on Georgia’s End-of-Course assessments, placing the school third overall in the state for End-of-Course (EOC) exam performance. All Georgia public high school students are required to take EOC's in American Literature, Algebra I, US History and Biology. PCHS’s pass rates and state ranking on each of these exams included:
• American Literature: 92.9% pass rate, 11th out of 189 districts,
• Algebra I: 93.5% pass rate, 9th out of 201 districts,
• U.S. History: 87.6% pass rate, 18th out of 190 districts; and
• Biology: 92.5% pass rate, 4th out of 196 districts. GOSA assigns each Georgia school and district a single score ranking, known as a College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score. This score is based on a combination of test scores, academic growth, the performance of varying subgroups of students in the school/district, student preparation for college or careers after graduation and graduation rate. PCHS scored as the top high school district in the State of Georgia, with an overall score of 94.2.
PCHS was also named a “5-star Climate” school by the Georgia DOE, the highest rating possible. Climate scores are calculated based on student and parent surveys, attendance data, student discipline management and school safety. The top 10% of Georgia High Schools achieve a 5-star rating each year. PCHS has received a 5-star rating each year since 2016.
