Middle Schools in Barrow County

Barrow County is home to four middle schools—Russell Middle School, Haymon-Morris Middle School, Westside Middle School, and Bear Creek Middle School—all serving grades 6-8 within the Barrow County district, which ranks in the middle of the state (51st percentile). Enrollment ranges from 752 to 973 students, and the schools show a wide range of academic outcomes, making school choice a significant factor for families.

Haymon-Morris Middle School is the clear standout, ranking 189th in the state (67th percentile) and improving an impressive 95 spots over two years. It leads the district in nearly every subject, especially advanced coursework—93.4% proficiency in Algebra I and 94.1% in HS Physical Science, both far above state averages. Russell Middle School offers the most consistency, holding steady around the 250th rank for three straight years with the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism (12.8%) and lowest poverty rate (54.27%). At the other end, Westside Middle School ranks last (359th) but showed the biggest single-year improvement, jumping 53 spots, while Bear Creek Middle School sits just ahead at 347th with the highest per-student spending ($13,768) yet the lowest 8th-grade science scores (15%).

Key takeaways for parents: attendance strongly tracks with achievement—the top two schools have the lowest absenteeism, while the bottom two have the highest. Money doesn’t predict success, as Bear Creek spends the most but ranks third. All four schools excel in advanced math and science courses, suggesting strong accelerated programs, but standard-level math and science lag state averages. Social studies is a district strength, with Haymon-Morris and Russell both beating the state. Notably, Haymon-Morris achieves top results despite a 61.56% poverty rate, proving that strong outcomes are possible regardless of socioeconomic factors. Westside, despite its challenges, is trending upward and worth watching.