Barrow County’s award-winning educational system has grown and expanded to meet the demands of area businesses, responding with student test scores and graduates who rank higher than the state averages.
Barrow County Public Schools have 17 schools that educate approximately 13,800 students each year. The System is district-accredited by Cognia and maintains a graduation rate that is consistently higher than the state and the nation.
Additionally, Lanier Technical College, part of the Technical College System of Georgia, has seen the benefits of having a campus in Winder, and produces graduates who are work-ready in a variety of fields. Whether the future includes one of the easily accessed universities, or whether the future includes the life sciences that make up the region’s Innovation Crescent, classroom preparation in Barrow County gives students an advantage.
One exciting advantage for many Barrow County students is the presence of the Sims Academy of Innovation and Technology, one of 33 College & Career Academies in Georgia. The Sims Academy focuses on developing workforce-ready students who can walk into high-paying industries such as robotics, culinary arts, broadcast video, and marketing while building an entrepreneurship foundation. In partnership with Lanier Technical College, Sims Academy students are able to get a jumpstart on their college career by registering for dual enrollment academic classes to satisfy both high school and college graduation requirements, and they attend their college classes at Lanier Tech’s location on the same campus, across the parking lot.
Foothills Education Charter High School offers a unique opportunity to any student who wishes to earn an accredited Georgia High School Diploma. The Winder campus is one of 16 locations across the North-Middle Georgia region, offering a full range of high school courses in a convenient, flexible, self-paced format. All classes are held in the evening so students can work during the day and attend school at night. Tuition is 100% FREE for students who enroll at Foothills full time. All courses are mastery-based, which means students cannot fail a course. There are no deadlines, so a student can take as much or as little time as needed to successfully complete the coursework. To better meet the different learning styles of students, Foothills offers a variety of course formats including textbook and web-based instruction. All methods provide self-paced, individualized mastery learning.
There are two private schools in Barrow County that teach children from kindergarten and above and several private preschools, most of which are affiliated with a specific religious doctrine.
770.867.9444
Join the Chamber
Register for Events
