Summary:
Waycross, Georgia is served by two middle schools—Ware County Middle School and Waycross Middle School—which together educate roughly 1,358 students in grades 6-8 within the Ware County school district, a system rated 3 stars and ranking in the 67th percentile statewide.
Both schools face significant socioeconomic challenges, with 80-91% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, yet they show notable strengths. The most striking result is in Algebra I End of Course testing, where Ware County Middle School achieved a perfect 100% proficiency rate and Waycross Middle School reached 90.9%, both far exceeding the state average of 48.1%. Both schools also outperform the state in 8th-grade science, with proficiency rates of 37.7% and 35.3% respectively versus the state's 29.7%. In 8th-grade math, Waycross Middle School (45.7%) nearly matches the state average (46.3%) and beats its district, while Ware County Middle School (39.1%) trails further behind. Both schools improved their overall state rankings this year, with Waycross Middle School jumping from the 42nd to 50th percentile and Ware County Middle School climbing from 45th to 51st.
Mathematics proficiency in grades 6-7 remains a concern at both schools, with rates roughly 10-15 points below state averages. Chronic absenteeism (18.5-19.5%) also exceeds the state rate of 17.7%, presenting a systemic challenge. The two schools show divergent trends in social studies, with Ware County Middle School dropping 11.5 points while Waycross Middle School improved by 7.9 points. Resource allocation is nearly identical at roughly $14,743 per student, though Waycross Middle School serves a more economically disadvantaged population with a slightly higher student-teacher ratio. Parents should note that current-year English Language Arts scores have not yet been released; last year's data showed both schools significantly below state averages in that subject.
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