Middle Schools in Tift County

Tift County is home to two middle schools—Eighth Street Middle School and Northeast Middle School—both serving grades 6-8 in a district where every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, reflecting high economic need across the community.

Eighth Street Middle School is the clear standout, ranking in the 66th percentile statewide and outperforming its counterpart in every subject tested. It posts a perfect 100% proficiency rate in Algebra I, far exceeding the state average of 48.1%, and also beats state averages in 8th grade math (49.6% vs. 46.3%), science (34.8% vs. 29.7%), and social studies (48.8% vs. 40.2%). Northeast Middle School shows promise too, jumping from the 40th to 51st percentile in one year, with a 94.6% Algebra I proficiency rate and science scores that edge out the state average. However, Northeast trails Eighth Street by 12.5 points in 8th grade math and 8.3 points in social studies, making Eighth Street the district’s flagship school.

Both schools struggle with grade-level math in 6th and 7th grades, falling below state averages, and chronic absenteeism is a concern—22.1% at Eighth Street and 25.9% at Northeast, both well above the state’s 17.7%. The most dramatic improvement comes from Northeast’s social studies, which jumped 15 points in a single year, while Eighth Street continues steady gains in Algebra I and 7th grade math. Spending is nearly identical at both schools (around $12,700 per student), yet Eighth Street converts that investment into stronger results. English Language Arts scores are not included in this release and will arrive in December, so no conclusions should be drawn from their absence. Overall, families will find a high-performing option in Eighth Street and a rapidly improving alternative in Northeast, both benefiting from a district rated 3 stars.