Middle Schools in Gordon County

Gordon County, Georgia is home to two middle schools serving grades 6-8: Red Bud Middle School and Ashworth Middle School, both part of the Gordon County district, which ranks in the 56th percentile statewide. These schools serve a predominantly rural area with high poverty levels, and the current data release does not include English Language Arts scores, which will be published in December.

Red Bud Middle School is the clear standout, ranking 163rd out of 578 Georgia middle schools (72nd percentile, 4 stars). It outperforms Ashworth in every subject tested. Most notably, Red Bud achieved a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra I End of Course exam—double the state average—while Ashworth posted a still-strong 66.6%. Red Bud also excels in 8th grade Science (46.5% vs. 30.3% at Ashworth) and Social Studies (44.6% vs. 27.4%). Ashworth, by contrast, ranks 354th (39th percentile, 2 stars) and has declined sharply from its 3-star rating last year. The most dramatic drops at Ashworth came in 8th grade, where math proficiency fell 15.7 points, science fell 12.2 points, and social studies fell 10.7 points year-over-year.

Despite similar resources—Ashworth actually spends more per student ($13,482 vs. $12,764) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio—the performance gap is substantial. Poverty likely plays a role: nearly 99% of Ashworth students qualify for free/reduced lunch versus 85% at Red Bud. Both schools struggle with chronic absenteeism (Red Bud at 22.1%, Ashworth at 19.7%, both above the state rate of 17.7%). Red Bud has maintained consistent 3-4 star ratings over three years, while Ashworth has trended downward. For parents, Red Bud offers exceptional math and science instruction, while Ashworth, despite its challenges, still exceeds state averages in Algebra I—suggesting pockets of strength worth exploring.