Middle Schools in Polk County

Polk County is home to two middle schools serving grades 6-8—Cedartown Middle School and Rockmart Middle School—both part of the Polk County district, which ranks in the lower half of Georgia districts with a 2-star rating.

Cedartown is the larger school (997 students) and the clear standout, having climbed from the 39th to the 53rd percentile in state rankings over two years. It outperforms Rockmart in most subjects, most dramatically in 8th grade Social Studies, where 41.5% of Cedartown students are proficient—exceeding the state average—versus just 13.2% at Rockmart, a 28-point gap. Cedartown also posted a remarkable +10.2 point improvement in 6th grade math proficiency. Rockmart (671 students) has shown its own gains, particularly in 7th grade math (+9.4 points) and 8th grade math (40.2% proficient), but its Social Studies scores dropped 5.4 points year-over-year and now sit far below both the district and state averages. Both schools outperform the state in 8th grade science, with Cedartown at 34.8% and Rockmart at 33.5% versus the state's 29.7%.

Despite serving high-poverty populations (76-80% free/reduced lunch), both schools keep chronic absenteeism below the state average (15.5% and 15.6% vs. 17.7%). Spending is nearly identical ($10,946 vs. $11,333 per student) with the same 17:1 student-teacher ratio, yet outcomes differ significantly—suggesting school-level factors like instruction or culture drive the gap. For parents, Cedartown offers the stronger all-around academic profile with a clear upward trajectory, while Rockmart shows promise in upper-grade math and science but needs urgent attention in Social Studies. Both schools are improving their state rankings, making this a district to watch.