Summary:
Rome Middle School is the sole middle school serving grades 7-8 in the Rome City district, enrolling 937 students in a high-poverty area where 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch.
The standout finding is the school's exceptional Algebra I performance: 95.6% of students scored proficient in 2025-2026, nearly double the state average of 48.1%, and the school posted a 96.2% proficiency rate the prior year. This is especially notable because the school's other math scores lag behind state averages—7th grade math proficiency was 36.6% versus 42.0% statewide, and 8th grade math was 37.4% versus 46.3%. The school also showed meaningful year-over-year improvement in math, with 7th grade proficiency rising from 28.8% to 36.6% and 8th grade from 33.8% to 37.4%. However, Social Studies remains a significant weakness, with only 15.5% proficient in 2025-2026 compared to 40.2% statewide—a sharp drop from 24.1% the previous year. Science also trails the state (22.9% vs. 29.7%).
Rome Middle School has consistently earned a 2-star rating, ranking 358th out of roughly 580 Georgia middle schools in 2025-2026, a recovery from 405th the prior year. Chronic absenteeism stands at 16.5%, below the state average of 17.7% despite the high poverty rate. The school benefits from a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.4:1 and per-student spending of $13,536. ELA scores for 2025-2026 have not yet been released, but the 2024-2025 data showed proficiency around 24%, roughly 15 points below state averages. The dramatic success in Algebra I suggests targeted strategies can work even in challenging circumstances, offering a potential model for improving other subjects.
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