Terrell County students return as southwest Georgia’s school year officially begins

DAWSON — Hallways filled with students, buses resumed their regular routes and another academic year got underway Monday as the Terrell County School System welcomed students back for the first day of the 2026-27 school year.

The return to classes places Terrell County among the earliest districts in southwest Georgia to begin the new academic year, with neighboring school systems opening over a span of more than a month.

The district serves approximately 961 students across three schools, according to most recent federal education data. Cooper-Carver Elementary School serves prekindergarten through fifth grade, Terrell Middle School serves grades 6-8, and Terrell High School serves grades 9-12. The middle and high schools share a campus on Greenwave Boulevard.

Superintendent Shereca Harvey said this year’s theme, “Making Waves,” reflects the district’s commitment to building momentum that leads to lasting success for students.

“As we launch the 2026-2027 school year, the Terrell County School System is excited to welcome our students, families, staff and community back for a year of growth, achievement and opportunity,” Harvey said.

The district’s work this year will center on three priorities: improving student attendance, strengthening literacy and raising academic achievement across all grade levels.

Harvey said the school system is aiming for at least 90% of students to attend school regularly, emphasizing that “students must be present to learn.” The district is also placing renewed emphasis on early literacy, with a goal of increasing the percentage of third-grade students reading on or above grade level by the end of the school year through targeted instruction, intervention and family engagement.

In addition, Harvey said the district will continue investing in high-quality instruction, professional development for educators and data-driven decision-making while expanding college and career readiness opportunities and maintaining safe, supportive learning environments.

“Our theme, ‘Making Waves,’ is about creating positive change that moves our students, schools and community forward,” Harvey said. “Every student matters, every day counts, and every success builds momentum for the future.”

Students returned to classrooms Monday following the summer break, beginning a school year that will include instruction, athletics, extracurricular activities and state testing before concluding next spring.

Terrell County was one of at least a dozen Georgia school systems opening Monday, according to a regional roundup. Dougherty County Schools, Thomasville City Schools, Tift County Schools, Worth County Schools, Randolph County Schools, Stewart County Schools, Quitman County Schools, Miller County Schools, Lanier County Schools, Clinch County Schools, Clay County School District, Decatur County Schools and Valdosta City Schools also welcomed students back Monday.

Elsewhere in southwest Georgia, the academic calendar remains staggered. Lee County Schools are scheduled to begin classes Wednesday, while Sumter County Schools opened July 30, making it one of the first districts in the region to return. Webster County Schools have one of the state’s latest opening dates and are scheduled to begin Sept. 8.

Private school students in Dawson will return later this week. Terrell Academy is scheduled to begin its school year Friday with a half-day session, according to the school’s published calendar.

Like districts across Georgia, Terrell County’s opening week is expected to focus on establishing classroom routines, reviewing school procedures, distributing schedules and preparing students for a full year of instruction before regular academic pacing begins.

Federal education data lists approximately 198.5 full-time equivalent employees working throughout the district during the 2025-26 school year, equating to roughly one employee for every five students.

Terrell County continues to operate as a Georgia charter school system, a designation that provides districts greater flexibility in areas such as scheduling, budgeting and instructional programming in exchange for meeting performance goals established through a charter agreement with the state.

Under the district’s most recently adopted calendar, students attend 177 instructional days. Employees on 190-day contracts are scheduled to work 190 total days, including pre-planning and post-planning activities that occur before and after students are in the classroom.

The district serves a student population with significant economic needs. Federal data compiled by U.S. News & World Report indicate approximately 71% of students qualify as economically disadvantaged, while the student body is reported as entirely minority. Those demographics influence both federal Title I funding and portions of Georgia’s Quality Basic Education funding formula, which allocates additional resources based on student characteristics and enrollment.

Enrollment remains an important factor for rural districts across southwest Georgia. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Terrell County’s population declined from 9,185 residents in 2020 to approximately 8,656 residents in 2025, a decrease of about 6%. Long-term population trends often affect school enrollment, which in turn influences state funding calculations.

Earlier this summer, the Terrell County Board of Education adopted its Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Later this summer, the board is expected to establish the district’s property tax millage rate following Georgia’s required public hearing process if the proposed rate exceeds the calculated rollback rate.

Statewide enrollment figures for the 2026-27 school year are expected to be released by the Georgia Department of Education later this fall, providing one of the first comprehensive snapshots of student attendance trends across Georgia following the opening weeks of school.