Middle Schools in Crisp County

Crisp County Middle School is the sole middle school in the Crisp County School District, serving grades 6–8 in Cordele, GA, with 714 students and a 100% free/reduced lunch population.

This school faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 20% of Georgia schools over the past three years. In the 2025–2026 school year, math proficiency ranged from 23.1% in 6th grade down to just 16.2% in 8th grade—a 30-point gap versus the state average for 8th graders. Social studies is the weakest subject, with only 13% of 8th graders proficient, a 27-point deficit. Science shows relative strength, with an 18.1% proficiency rate and the smallest gap versus the state (-11.6 points). Chronic absenteeism is a major concern at 29.4%, nearly double the state average of 17.7%. On a positive note, math proficiency improved year-over-year in 6th and 7th grades (from 17.1% to 23.1% and 19.2% to 22.8%, respectively), though 8th grade declined from 20.3% to 16.2%.

Despite spending $15,914 per student—well above typical levels—and maintaining a favorable 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio, outcomes remain low. This suggests that resources alone aren't the answer; targeted interventions in attendance, 8th-grade math, and social studies are critical. The most recent ELA data (2024–2025) shows 8th graders at 22.7% proficiency, the highest of any subject-grade combination, indicating literacy may be a relative strength. For parents, this school serves a high-poverty community where nearly one in three students is chronically absent. The path forward likely requires a focus on attendance, building on the math gains in lower grades, and providing extra support in social studies and 8th-grade math to reverse the downward trend as students progress.