As one of the leading school districts in Georgia, we are known for our innovation and whole child approach. We support 43 schools within our school district (23 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 8 high schools, and 1 alternative program. During the job fair you will have the opportunity to interact with Forsyth County Schools representatives from the elementary, middle and high school levels. You will also have opportunities to visit booths representing our Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education Programs, Dual Language Immersion Programs, Forsyth Teacher Academy, Human Resources Department, Special Education Department, and Student Support Department to learn more about these programs. For information about Georgia certification, you can visit our Human Resources booth. If you do not have an education degree but are interested in transitioning into the field of education, the Forsyth Teacher Academy booth can provide answers to your questions.
As the nation's 6th fastest-growing county from 2010-2020, Forsyth County's growth and increasing cultural diversity have had a positive impact on our schools. Highly motivated students come to our classrooms locally and from all over the world. Our students bring with them support from home and excitement that keeps teaching fresh and new.
Besides being only 30 miles from Atlanta, Forsyth County is also just minutes from the Blue Ridge Mountains and is nestled alongside Lake Lanier, a favorite recreational venue. Numerous world-class parks, recreational and cultural activities, as well as well designed green space and health care services, are available for all ages.
Our thriving local economy features countless retail centers including The Collection Forsyth and Halcyon. Additionally, the county is only twenty minutes away from three major shopping malls. Lanier Technical College and North Georgia University are located in Forsyth County. Over a dozen colleges and universities are also less than one hour from the county. A variety of housing options are available, from apartments to townhouses, to planned subdivisions and country living.
Located along Georgia’s “Technology Corridor” of Georgia Highway 400, the economic profile of Forsyth County is quite diverse, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses opened by local entrepreneurs who saw a market for their product or service. Close enough to the city, yet still small enough to know your neighbors and enjoy the fresh air of the country, Forsyth County is a great place to live, to raise a family and educate your children.
Our school district’s history started in 1873 when "old field schools," log buildings with dirt floors built in cleared fields, were consolidated into one public district. At that time, there were 1,456 total students, 114 Black or African American and 1,342 White. Today, FCS serves 54,180 students and is the largest employer in the county with 8,000+ full/part-time employees and substitutes. To put these numbers into perspective, our student population is larger than Truist Park's capacity and our staff population is larger than The Fox Theatre's capacity.
In the past decade, our student enrollment has grown by 44%. We have built 9 new schools in this time period and all existing schools prior to 2000 received additions/modifications within the past two decades. For 2022-23, we are home to 42 schools – 23 elementary, 11 middle, 7 high, and 1 college and career-high school, and 7 support facilities.
FCS is the 5th largest out of 180 school districts in Georgia. We operate on a $585 million budget, with 73% of our expenses tied to instruction. The budget income is 54% from local funds and 46% from state and federal funds. The FY23 budget was built maintaining the same millage rate for the last eight years, which is the lowest in Metro Atlanta. FCS’ per-pupil expenditure is $9,800, which is the lowest among the 12 largest districts in the state. 14% of the student population is free and/or reduced. We are the only school district in the state to have a 5/5 Star Financial Efficiency Rating for five consecutive years.
One of the many things that make FCS special is that, even with our growth, we still maintain a small-town feel and form connections that go beyond the walls of our schools. As the nation’s 6th fastest growing county from 2010-20, Forsyth County’s growth and increasing diversity have positively impacted our schools. Highly motivated students come to our classrooms locally and from all over the world, representing 129 countries and 69 languages. The fastest-growing population is Asian students at 27%; the student population is also comprised of White 49%, Hispanic 15%, Black or African American 5%, two or more races 4%, American Indian or Alaska Native and Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, which are both less than 1%.
Parental/guardian and community support in FCS is unmatched. All schools have active PTA/Os, Local School Councils (LSC), volunteer/mentor programs, and Partners in Education and booster programs, and are also supported by the Forsyth County Education Foundation.
