Woody Gap Schools

Address: 2331 GA-60, Suches, GA 30572

Description: Georgia's smallest public school

History: The State of Georgia's smallest public school. Situated in Suches, GA in "The Valley Above The Clouds", the property for the school previously sat as the "Homesite of Joseph Emerson Brown", the home of Civil War Governor of Georgia. It was here that Governor Brown was raised and farmed as a young man before leaving for school and later on, a career in politics. During the late 1800's and early 1900's, the children of Suches found themselves being educated in the small country schools within the Suches community. Eventually, the need for a consolidated and updated school building came along. To fit this need, Forest Ranger Arthur Woody and his son, Walter, eventually bought the property from the Brown Family and donated it to the county for the purpose of using the property to build what is known today as Woody Gap Schools. Opened in the Fall of 1941, the school opened with an enrollment of over 250 kids. Throughout It's years, the school has remained as the smallest public school in the state, with graduating classes as big as 1 or 2, and even some as big as 11-13. Due to it's isolated location, the school would be granted "isolated school" status in the 1970's, saving the school from closure and helping the school receive funds to keep the school in operation. With it's small population, the school has proven to benefit academically as teachers are able to give more one-on-one instruction to their students. The school comes complete with a basketball gymnasium, a baseball field, and a lunchroom and still continues to operate today.

Fun Facts: 1. The school is named after famous Georgia Forest Ranger, Arthur Woody. 2. The school sits on the grounds of Georgia Civil War Governor Joseph Emerson Brown's former childhood home site. 3. The school is the smallest public school in the State of Georgia.