Summary:
Ben Hill County Middle School is the only middle school in Ben Hill County, serving grades 6 through 8 in Fitzgerald, GA, with 594 students and a 100% free/reduced lunch population.
Since this is the sole middle school in the county, its performance directly reflects the district’s results. The school has shown steady improvement in state rankings, climbing from the 40th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 46th percentile in 2025-2026. Its standout strength is 8th-grade Science, where it has outperformed the state average for two consecutive years—33.6% proficient in 2024-2025 versus the state’s 28.8%, and 33.2% in 2025-2026 versus the state’s 29.7%. Mathematics also improved notably year-over-year, with 7th-grade math jumping 4.5 points (from 24.4% to 28.9%) and 6th-grade math rising 2.9 points (from 24.1% to 27.0%). Social Studies saw the largest single-year gain, climbing 4.9 points to 33.2% proficiency. However, 8th-grade math dipped from 40.3% to 36.6%, and proficiency rates in most subjects remain below state averages. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate of 15.0% is better than both the district (18.0%) and state (17.7%), which is impressive given the high-poverty context. Per-student spending is high at $15,378, with a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.
For parents, this school offers a supportive environment with small class sizes and strong science instruction, but there is room for growth in math, social studies, and English Language Arts. The most recent ELA data (2024-2025) shows proficiency around 28-31%, roughly 10-12 points below state averages; current-year ELA scores will be released in December. The school’s consistent upward ranking trend suggests gradual improvement, and its below-average absenteeism points to a positive school climate. While academic outcomes are mixed, the combination of high spending, low student-teacher ratios, and improving test scores indicates a school working to overcome significant socioeconomic challenges.
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