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Appalachian Georgia in 2025

  • Marcus J. Hopkins
  • Feb 15
  • 5 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

The image is a map highlighting specific counties in the northern part of Georgia, USA. These counties are part of a study concerning the literacy levels of Appalachian adults. A color gradient bar on the left side shows percentages from 36.5% to 78.8%, with green indicating lower percentages and red indicating higher percentages of adults reading at or below an 8th-grade level. The individual counties are outlined and color-coded accordingly. The names of the counties are labeled within each of their boundaries. Large text at the top reads "Appalachian Learning Initiative," and to the right, it states, "Percentage of Appalachian Adults in Georgia Who Read At or Below an 8th Grade Level." At the bottom left is the APPLI logo, and contact information. Credits at the bottom mention the National Center for Education Statistics, 2020.
Adults living in Georgia's Appalachian counties who live closer to major cities or universities have higher literacy rates than their rural peers

By: Marcus J. Hopkins

February 15th, 2025


Georgia is home to the second-largest population of Appalachian residents among the region's 13 states. Like their peers in other states, many Appalachians living in the state face significant health and social barriers that may impact their ability to learn and achieve higher educational outcomes, including relatively high percentages of adults lacking health insurance coverage, elevated rates of Coronary Heart Disease, and high rates of hypertension (high blood pressure).


Georgia's page on our website is the second to receive an overhaul for 2025. It centralizes and expands state-specific information, including county-level educational data, public health infographics, information about social determinants of learning and health, and the contact information from our newest addition—the Appalachian Advocacy Toolkit.


These additions will hopefully allow visitors to find the data that pertains to them more easily and provide our communities with greater context about the issues facing the region.


Educational Outcomes in Appalachian Georgia


The image features a red silhouette of the state of Georgia on a white background. Inside the silhouette, there are five person icons, with three in white and two in gray, representing statistical data. Below these icons, bold white text states, "More than 3 out of 5 adults living in Georgia’s Appalachian Counties read at or below an 8th Grade level." To the right of the state, black text reads, "Appalachian Learning Initiative." Beneath it, in slightly smaller text, is "APPLI is building solutions." At the bottom, the APPLI logo is shown with the full name, Appalachian Learning Initiative, and a URL, "www.appli.org." At the bottom right, social media icons for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube are accompanied by "@APPLIOorg." The text at the bottom also cites, "National Center for Education Statistics, 2020."
62.9% of adults living in Georgia's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level, including nearly 1 out of every 4 (23.8%) who read below a 3rd Grade level or are unable to read at all

As of the most recent data release, more than 3 out of every 5 adults aged 16-65 (62.9%) living in Georgia's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level, including nearly 1 out of every 4 (23.8%) who read below a 3rd Grade level or are unable to read at all. When compared with the Appalachian counties in the other 12 states within the region, Georgia's Appalachian counties have the 7th-lowest literacy proficiency rate.


In 2024, Georgia received $22,382,859 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education through the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). IT IS UNCLEAR IF THIS FUNDING WILL BE RENEWED OR DISBURSED UNDER THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION


The image is a graphic promoting statistical information about adults in Georgia's Appalachian counties. It features a silhouette of the state of Georgia in dark blue, with a grouping of five stick figures at the top left. Four figures are white, and one is gold, illustrating a ratio. Below them, bold white text reads, "Nearly 3 out of 4," followed by smaller text that says, "adults living in Georgia’s Appalachian counties struggle with basic math." To the right of the map, the text states, "Appalachian Learning Initiative" at the top and "APPLI is building solutions" below. At the bottom, the Appalachian Learning Initiative logo is placed to the left, with the organization's name and website. The bottom right features social media icons for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Nearly 3 out of every 4 adults (73.3%) struggle with bath math

In addition to reading proficiency issues, nearly 3 out of every 4 adults (73.3%) struggle with basic math. These adults have trouble solving math problems with more than three steps, struggle with fractions and percentages, & are unable to perform basic tasks, like making correct change or budgeting finances.


These adults have trouble solving math problems with more than three steps, struggle with fractions and percentages, & are unable to perform basic tasks, like making correct change or budgeting finances.


Georgia's Appalachian counties have the 8th-lowest numeracy proficiency rate among the 13 states within the region.


Adults with low literacy and numeracy proficiency rates face significant real-world implications and impacts.


Adults with low literacy skills face more difficulty finding and keeping jobs that provide wages capable of sustaining a family than their peers with higher literacy skills. They are also less likely to advance in their careers as a result of lower reading, digital, and critical thinking skills that might afford them more opportunities (Vineis, 2024).


Adults with low numeracy skills face similar difficulties, being less likely to be employed, less likely to earn sufficient wages, and often report being less healthy and having lower levels of life satisfaction. Additionally, modern technology has allowed companies across every sector to automate many manual labor jobs that traditionally employed adults with lower levels of literacy and numeracy (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2024).


APPLI will continue to gather and report data highlighting educational disparities in Appalachian Georgia and the region.

 

Health Outcomes in Appalachian Georgia


The image provides information on high blood pressure prevalence in Georgia, specifically focusing on Appalachian counties. On the left, a map of Georgia highlights various counties in different shades of red. The intensity of red correlates with the prevalence of high blood pressure, ranging from 31.2% to 54.0%. Two counties, Gordon and Habersham, are emphasized with darker shades, indicating higher rates of 54.0% and 50.8% respectively. In the center, five stylized human figures are partially colored in shades of red, illustrating that more than four out of every ten adults in these counties have high blood pressure. A text box at the bottom indicates that 40.7% of adults in Appalachian Georgia have this condition. The background features a blurry natural landscape.
Roughly 4 out of every 10 adults living in Georgia's Appalachian counties are living with hypertension—a significantly higher rate than the national average of 34% (Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2024)

Georgia's Appalachian counties tend to have significantly higher incidence and prevalence rates of both infectious and non-infectious diseases and negative health behaviors, including:


The link between educational attainment and poor health outcomes has long been established. Essentially, higher educational attainment generally results in people making better health decisions and having greater access to employment opportunities and financial resources that enable easier access to high-quality health services (Shankar et al., 2013). Similarly, additional research also indicates that learners' health can profoundly impact educational attainment. Learners who are living with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and other illnesses and syndromes, are more likely to miss school than their peers, which can impact their ability to complete work on time, take part in exams, participate in school and group activities, and/or physically maneuver through their learning environment. These factors can result in lower or poor academic performance (Victoria State Government, 2012).

 

Social Determinants in Appalachian Georgia


The image is divided into two main sections. On the left is a map of Georgia, showcasing various counties highlighted in shades of pink to red. The color gradient legend below indicates percentages from 1.8% to 8.2%, suggesting a data metric related to the counties. On the right side, text in bold reads "Disabled and Uninsured in Georgia," followed by a statement about uninsured disabled adults in Georgia's Appalachian counties. Below, a dark red hexagon displays "14.9%" with the label "Banks" underneath. The background features a clear blue sky and a lone tree in a field, and in the bottom right is the logo for the Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI) with their website.
Nearly 1 out of every 11 disabled adults living in Georgia's Appalachian counties lacks health insurance—a significantly higher rate than the national average of 5.5% (Source: American Community Survey, 2024)

In addition to facing significant health issues that may hinder educational attainment and outcomes, adults living in Georgia's Appalachian counties face substantial barriers—called social determinants—that may impact both health and learning.


For example:


  • Nearly 1 out of every 6 adults (15.8%) is living with a disability, compared to 12.7% statewide and 13.5% nationally;

  • Nearly 1 out of every 4 residents (22.6%) lives in poverty, earning less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), compared to 22.1% statewide and 20.2% nationally;

  • Nearly 1 out of every 7 adults (14.2%) has not graduated from high school or achieved an equivalent certification, compared to 11.4% statewide and 10.7% nationally;

  • More than 1 out of 8 residents (13.2%) lacks health insurance, compared to the statewide rate of 12.6%. Both the regional and statewide rates of uninsured adults are significantly higher than the national rate of 8.6%


Similar to how social determinants can impact health, they also impact learning—a framework called the Social Determinants of Learning™ (SDOL™). SDOLs are social and structural factors outside the individual learner, often beyond the traditional reach of teachers and schools, that can affect learning (Levinson & Cohen, 2023). These include healthcare access and quality, economic stability, neighborhood and built environments, social inclusion and non-discrimination, educational access, the quality of educational opportunities and institutions, and family group and structural conflicts.


You can discover more information about social determinants and health issues in Georgia's Appalachian counties on our dedicated page:



The image features a teal background with white text centered on it. At the top, the text reads, "Help support our research, reporting, and advocacy in Appalachia." Below this, centered in larger text, it says, "Donate at: https://www.appli.org/donate." Toward the bottom left, there is a row of small social media icons followed by the text "Follow us @APPLIOrg." At the bottom is a multicolored horizontal stripe in shades of dark red, orange, yellow, and blue. In the lower center is the APPLI logo, with the words "Appalachian Learning Initiative" and the website "www.appli.org" beneath it.
The Appalachian Learning Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Morgantown, WV. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations go toward operating costs.

APPLI will be working to update these data across all of Appalachia throughout 2025 to ensure they are current.


We know that many people living and working in Appalachia are struggling, and we hope that you will consider making a donation if you are able to.

APPLI operates entirely off of donations, which cover all the costs associated with running a non-profit, including website hosting, content creation, research, and software licenses.


We try to keep costs as low as possible, with the entirety of APPLI's team serving in a volunteer capacity.



To donate, please visit our donation page:




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