Best Middle Schools in Covington, GA

There are five middle schools serving grades 6-8 in Covington, Georgia, all part of the Newton County school district, which collectively enroll about 3,600 students in a high-poverty area where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

If you are looking at schools in this area, Veterans Memorial Middle School is the clear standout. It is the only school in the group with a 2-star rating, and it outperforms every other Covington middle school in most subjects. For example, its 8th-grade math proficiency rate (37.7%) is more than double the district average, and its Algebra I proficiency (96.3%) is nearly double the state average. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (20%) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (13.0), which may help explain its success. In contrast, Liberty Middle School is the lowest-performing overall, with a 1-star rating and the highest chronic absenteeism rate (29.3%). Interestingly, Liberty posts strong Algebra I scores (70.7% proficient), but its grade-level math proficiency is very low (16.4% in 8th grade), suggesting that only a small group of advanced students are thriving. Indian Creek Middle School, Clements Middle School, and Cousins Middle School all fall in the middle, with 1-star ratings and proficiency rates generally below state averages.

Across all five schools, chronic absenteeism is a major concern—every school exceeds the state rate of 17.7%, and the problem is worst at Liberty (29.3%). There is also a clear pattern where higher per-student spending and lower class sizes correlate with better outcomes, as seen at Veterans Memorial ($15,230 per student) versus Liberty ($13,029 per student). Science and social studies proficiency are uniformly weak across the district, with most schools scoring below district averages. While the advanced math pathway appears to be working well at several schools, the majority of students are struggling with grade-level math, and year-over-year scores swing dramatically, suggesting small test cohorts. For parents, the takeaway is that Veterans Memorial is the strongest choice academically, while the other schools face significant challenges that may require extra support at home.