Summary:
Dooly County Middle School is the sole middle school in Dooly County, serving grades 6 through 8 with 229 students in the rural community of Pinehurst, Georgia.
This school serves a student body where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a high-poverty area. The school spends a substantial $22,006 per student and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.4:1, suggesting relatively small class sizes. Academically, the school has shown a promising upward trajectory, climbing from the 9th percentile in state rankings in 2023-2024 to the 18th percentile in 2025-2026. The most notable improvement is in mathematics, where proficiency rates roughly doubled across all grade levels between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026: 6th grade jumped from 9.0% to 18.5%, 7th grade from 17.9% to 27.0%, and 8th grade from 7.7% to 18.3%. However, 8th grade Social Studies proficiency dropped sharply from 26.9% to 15.9% during the same period, and Science remained relatively flat at 12.2%.
Despite these gains, the school still trails state averages significantly in every subject, with proficiency gaps ranging from 15 to 28 percentage points below state levels. Chronic absenteeism is a concern, with 26.3% of students chronically absent compared to 17.7% statewide. The school's performance directly mirrors the district's standing, as it is the only middle school in the county. While the high per-student spending and improving math scores suggest investments may be starting to yield results, the persistent achievement gaps, elevated absenteeism, and the decline in Social Studies highlight areas that need continued attention. For parents, this school offers small class sizes and a positive trend in math, but families should be aware of the broader academic challenges and consider how the school's resources align with their child's needs.
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