The Thomasville City School will unite to maximize the individual potential of all students for success in learning, leadership and life. It is always exciting to offer ways to communicate more effectively with all of our stakeholders. We hope that you find the information to be helpful as you journey through the individual updates from each of our schools. You will find many interesting and innovative activities going on in each school. Thomasville City Schools was chartered in 1900 as an Independent Public School System by the City of Thomasville, Georgia. Article 11 of the City Charter states, “There shall be established, conducted, maintained, supported, and provided for by local taxation and otherwise . . . a system of public schools in and for the City of Thomasville, Thomas County, Georgia.” The City Charter provides for the election and composition of the board of education and grants the board the authority to develop its budget and to levy taxes. The attendance district for the school system is the city limits of Thomasville. Out-of-district Georgia residents are admitted on a space-available basis. The Thomasville Community has shown strong fiscal support for its city school district, twice passing referendums to levy a one cent Educational Special Local Option Sales Tax ESPLOST to support capital improvements for the district. The first referendum which passed in 2002 funded new roofs and air-conditioning systems for all of the schools and miscellaneous building renovations system-wide. The ESPLOST was renewed in 2007 and is funding the construction of classroom additions at the three elementary schools, technology upgrades, fine arts equipment, and numerous renovation projects. Approximately 2900 students are currently enrolled in five schools within the district. The district is comprised of three PreK-5 elementary buildings, one 6-8 middle school, and one 9-12 high school. The Scholars Academy for grades 6-12 operates as a school-within-a-school program and is housed on the middle school campus. All schools within the district qualify for and receive Title I funding as school-wide programs. District demographic data show a student population which is 71.72% African American, 25.04% Caucasian, 1.25% Hispanic, 1.25% Multi-Racial, and less than 1% Asian/American Indian. Socio-economic data (free and reduced lunch status) indicates an eligible population of 66.42%. As of the census of 2000, there were 18,162 people, 7,021 households, and 4,654 families residing in the city of Thomasville. There were 7,788 housing units at an average density of 523.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 55.4% African American, 42.8% White, 1.28% Hispanic or Latina, and less than 1% each of Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other races. Of the approximately 7000 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 22.7% had a female head of household, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone over the age of 65 who was living alone. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06. In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25-44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,926, and the median income for a family was $37,606. Males had a median income of $28,331 as compared to $21,514 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,910. Approximately 15.1% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under the age of 18 and 21% of those 65 or older.
