Best Public Schools in Centerville, GA

Thomson Middle School and Centerville Elementary School serve the city of Centerville, Georgia, as part of the Houston County School District, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 68th percentile statewide. Both schools serve predominantly low-income families, with free/reduced lunch rates above 91%, and they each maintain a 3-star rating despite facing significant economic challenges.

Thomson Middle School (grades 6-8, 734 students) stands out for its exceptional Algebra I program, achieving a perfect 100% proficiency rate in both recent school years—far surpassing the district's 54.6% and the state's 48.1%. However, this advanced math success doesn't translate to grade-level math, where the school trails district averages in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math, though it hovers near state averages. The school also shows a mixed picture in other subjects: 8th grade science proficiency (34.4%) declined notably year-over-year, while 8th grade math improved significantly by 8.2 points. A pressing concern is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 21.2%, which is well above both the district (15.6%) and state (17.7%) averages. Per-student spending is higher here at $15,710, with a favorable 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio.

Centerville Elementary School (grades PK-5, 679 students) serves a student body where nearly all students (98.67%) qualify for free/reduced lunch, yet the school shows encouraging academic momentum. Fifth grade math proficiency jumped 6.5 points to 45.1%, and 5th grade science soared 11.7 points to 47.3%, nearly matching the district average. Third grade math also improved, though 4th grade math dipped by 5 points. The school's chronic absenteeism rate (16.3%) is better than the state average, which is notable given the high poverty level. While both schools generally trail Houston County district averages in most subjects, they often perform at or above state averages. The district's strong overall performance means these Centerville schools have room to grow, but their resilience in high-poverty conditions and Centerville Elementary's recent gains are promising signs for families.