Summary:
LaGrange, Georgia is served by three public middle schools—Long Cane Middle School, Gardner-Newman Middle School, and Callaway Middle School—all part of the Troup County School District, serving grades 6-8 in a high-poverty area where free/reduced lunch rates range from 94.6% to 100%.
Long Cane is the clear academic leader, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 62nd percentile statewide. Its Algebra I proficiency rate is an extraordinary 98.4%, more than double the state average of 48.1%, and it outperforms the state in 6th and 8th grade math. Gardner-Newman sits in the middle with a 2-star rating (42nd percentile), posting a strong 84.8% Algebra I proficiency but falling below state averages in most other subjects. Callaway trails significantly, ranking in the 30th percentile with just 37.8% Algebra I proficiency and the lowest math scores at every grade level—its 8th grade math rate of 18.8% is nearly 38 points behind Long Cane. Notably, Callaway actually spends the most per student ($14,118) yet achieves the weakest results, while Long Cane spends less ($13,027) and performs best, suggesting funding alone doesn't drive outcomes.
Chronic absenteeism doesn't fully explain the gaps either—Gardner-Newman has the lowest rate (13.5%) but doesn't outperform Long Cane (17.0%). All three schools struggle with 8th grade Social Studies, falling well below the state average of 40.2%, with Callaway at just 16.1%. Trends show Long Cane holding steady, Gardner-Newman slowly improving, and Callaway declining, widening the gap between the top and bottom performers. English Language Arts scores from the current release are not yet available (expected in December), so a complete picture will emerge later this year.
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