William James Middle School

William James Middle School in Statesboro, GA, serves approximately 536 students in grades 6-8 as part of Bulloch County Schools. The school has climbed to its best statewide ranking in seven years—now in the 55th percentile with a 3-star rating—after several years of steady improvement.

The school's standout strength is its advanced coursework program. In 2025-2026, 100% of students taking the Algebra I End-of-Course exam scored proficient or better, more than double the district and state averages. Eighth graders taking HS Physical Science also excelled, with 92% proficiency. This pattern suggests a highly effective pipeline for high-achieving students. The school also ranks in the 61st percentile statewide for serving special education students—its strongest subgroup performance—and has cut chronic absenteeism dramatically, from 31.2% in 2021-2022 to 19.5% now. In 8th grade social studies, the school outperforms both district and state averages, a notable bright spot.

However, the picture is more mixed for standard grade-level classes. While 6th grade math matches the state average, 7th and 8th grade math lag behind, and 8th grade science proficiency is well below state levels. This creates a "tale of two schools" dynamic: exceptional results for advanced students, but more work needed for the broader population. Compared to nearby Southeast Bulloch Middle School—which serves a demographically similar student body and ranks in the 85th percentile—William James trails by 15-20 points in most subjects, though it matches Southeast Bulloch in Algebra I. It clearly outperforms Langston Chapel Middle School (32nd percentile) and is closely matched with Metter Middle School (56th percentile). With the highest per-student spending among these schools ($15,505) and a favorable 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio, William James has strong resources to build on its upward trajectory.