Middle Schools in Columbia County

Columbia County is home to eight middle schools serving grades 6-8, with a combined enrollment of roughly 6,800 students across a district that ranks in the 92nd percentile statewide and holds a 5-star rating.

For parents, the standout options are Riverside Middle School and Greenbrier Middle School, both ranking in the top 7% of Georgia middle schools. Riverside leads the district with exceptional math scores (81-83% proficiency across grades 6-8) and the highest Algebra I pass rate at 95.1%, while Greenbrier posts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (6.9%) and tops the district in social studies. Stallings Island Middle School is a consistent performer, ranking in the top 50 statewide for three straight years. At the other end, Grovetown Middle School ranks lowest but showed the biggest improvement in 6th grade math (a 12-point jump), while Lakeside Middle School spends the most per student ($14,410) yet ranks second-lowest academically.

District-wide, math and social studies proficiency run 14-19 points above state averages, but 8th grade science is a glaring weakness—only 12.5% of students are proficient versus 29.7% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 12.9%, but ranges from 6.9% at Greenbrier to 17.7% at Harlem Middle School. Notably, the three schools with the lowest absenteeism and poverty rates are the top three performers, while the three with the highest rates rank at the bottom. Algebra I scores also show dramatic year-over-year swings—Columbia Middle School dropped 35.8 points and Evans Middle School fell 18.9 points—likely reflecting changes in which students take the course rather than declining ability. Overall, this district offers strong math instruction, but parents should ask about science support and attendance initiatives at individual schools.