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Test scores delayed: 2026 rankings for Georgia do not yet include English Language Arts scores, which will not be released by the Georgia Department of Education until winter 2026.

Dean Rusk Middle School

Q: Is Dean Rusk Middle School a good school?

Dean Rusk Middle School ranks 58 th of 578 Georgia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 5 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

58^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 578 Georgia Middle Schools

Better than 90% of Georgia middle schools

Summary

Dean Rusk Middle School in Canton, GA, serves 1,543 students in grades 6-8 within the Cherokee County School District, and has climbed to a 5-star rating and 90th percentile statewide ranking—up from the 80th percentile a decade ago.

The school’s standout strength is math. In 2025-2026, 100% of students taking Algebra I scored proficient or above—a perfect score that far exceeds the district average (62.3%) and state average (48.1%). This isn’t a fluke; Dean Rusk has maintained near-perfect Algebra I scores for four straight years. Eighth-grade math proficiency (71.8%) also outpaces the district (63.1%) and state (46.3%) by wide margins. The school also shines in High School Physical Science, with 98.4% of 8th graders scoring proficient, compared to 60.9% statewide. Among nearby Cherokee County middle schools, Dean Rusk ranks highest—ahead of Creekland Middle (64th), Woodstock Middle (74th), and E. T. Booth Middle (102nd). Its Algebra I performance even matches or exceeds high-performing Fulton County schools like Northwestern Middle (97.6%) and Mabry Middle (100%).

Dean Rusk also demonstrates strong results for African American students, ranking 8th statewide (98th percentile) for that subgroup. Chronic absenteeism has dropped from 24.1% to 11.6% since 2021-2022, now below the state average. The school achieves these outcomes while spending $12,086 per student—less than nearby Woodstock Middle ($14,499) and the Fulton County schools ($16,000-$17,000). Areas for growth include 8th grade science (47.4% proficient, though still above district and state averages) and outcomes for Asian and multi-racial students, which rank lower than other subgroups. Overall, Dean Rusk combines top-tier math performance, efficient spending, and steady improvement, making it a standout choice in the region.

1,543

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,086

Per pupil spending ?

30.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

2761 E Cherokee Dr
Canton, GA 30115

(770) 704-1135

District: Cherokee County

Students who attend Dean Rusk Middle School usually attend:

High:

Sequoyah High School

Feeder schools for Dean Rusk Middle School:

Elementary:	Hickory Flat Elementary School
	Holly Springs Elementary School
	Indian Knoll Elementary
	Mountain Road Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.0%

Hispanic:

18.0%

African American:

6.9%

See top rated Georgia middle schools

Compare Dean Rusk Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 80th percentile in 2016 → 90th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Georgia average (64% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 10% of Georgia middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg57%

Georgia avg43%

58^th of 578

Georgia public middle schools ?

Top 10%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From top 20% (2016) to top 10% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 7Middle Schools in the Cherokee County

22^nd of 202Cherokee County among Georgia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	87.6	58 of 578	90.0%	★★★★★
2025	85.1	76 of 585	87.0%	★★★★☆
2024	84.0	83 of 578	85.6%	★★★★☆
2023	83.8	83 of 569	85.4%	★★★★☆
2022	83.1	81 of 558	85.5%	★★★★☆
2021	80.9	79 of 542	85.4%	★★★★☆
2019	81.9	93 of 559	83.4%	★★★★☆
2018	79.7	99 of 543	81.8%	★★★★☆
2017	77.4	107 of 539	80.1%	★★★★☆
2016	75.6	108 of 545	80.2%	★★★★☆
2015	77.9	101 of 537	81.2%	★★★★☆
2014	75.0	100 of 521	80.8%	★★★★☆
2013	77.1	82 of 527	84.4%	★★★★☆
2012	77.7	79 of 508	84.4%	★★★★☆
2011	77.7	84 of 504	83.3%	★★★★☆
2010	78.8	67 of 494	86.4%	★★★★☆
2009	81.8	51 of 466	89.1%	★★★★☆
2008	78.4	71 of 462	84.6%	★★★★☆
2007	80.3	50 of 445	88.8%	★★★★☆
2006	81.9	45 of 420	89.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	94.5	8 of 480	98.3%	★★★★★
2025	81.0	69 of 494	86.0%	★★★★☆
2024	82.7	56 of 489	88.5%	★★★★☆
2023	78.8	71 of 485	85.4%	★★★★☆
2022	72.3	94 of 482	80.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	43.9	57 of 89	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.5	52 of 92	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.6	47 of 90	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.8	60 of 95	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	66.7	31 of 166	81.3%	★★★★☆
2025	35.7	127 of 199	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.9	51 of 200	74.5%	★★★★☆
2023	66.5	26 of 166	84.3%	★★★★☆
2022	24.4	144 of 157	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	88.0	47 of 550	91.5%	★★★★★
2025	85.7	60 of 567	89.4%	★★★★☆
2024	84.5	70 of 558	87.5%	★★★★☆
2023	83.6	74 of 553	86.6%	★★★★☆
2022	83.7	70 of 544	87.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	76.2	67 of 374	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	66.2	108 of 400	73.0%	★★★★☆
2024	70.2	78 of 381	79.5%	★★★★☆
2023	59.0	121 of 380	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.8	106 of 367	71.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	85.4	65 of 550	88.2%	★★★★☆
2025	83.3	75 of 569	86.8%	★★★★☆
2024	81.6	79 of 561	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	82.8	77 of 559	86.2%	★★★★☆
2022	81.5	80 of 553	85.5%	★★★★☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2023	81.3	19 of 157	87.9%	★★★★☆
2022	85.3	16 of 159	89.9%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	67.4	44 of 136	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.1	46 of 169	72.8%	★★★★☆
2024	70.4	43 of 172	75.0%	★★★★☆
2023	58.8	59 of 163	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.7	63 of 145	56.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	72.3	80 of 425	81.2%	★★★★☆
2025	57.7	131 of 442	70.4%	★★★★☆
2024	56.1	148 of 437	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.8	159 of 429	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.1	162 of 431	62.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	74.3	92 of 404	77.2%	★★★★☆
2025	72.0	100 of 415	75.9%	★★★★☆
2024	68.0	117 of 417	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	72.3	96 of 429	77.6%	★★★★☆
2022	69.4	112 of 425	73.6%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2026)98th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)91st percentile~ school

Male (2026)88th percentile~ school

Migrant (2023)88th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)82nd percentile-8 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)81st percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2026)81st percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)77th percentile-13 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)68th percentile-22 vs school

Asian (2026)36th percentile-54 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I100%+52 vs state

HS Physical Science98%+37 vs state

Social Studies66%+26 vs state

Mathematics62%+19 vs state

Science47%+18 vs state

4.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, October 25, 2010

A better than average school with better than average administration. Will be an improvement when school can take over 6th grade as this will lead to some physical improvements that can only make a very good school much better! Close Quote

Schools Near Dean Rusk Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2026)	Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2026)			Milestones Assessment Science (2026)	Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2026)	Milestones Assessment HS Physical Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment HS Physical Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dean Rusk Middle School	Public	6-8	2761 E Cherokee Dr	Canton	30115	Cherokee County	Cherokee County	No	No	No	No	(770) 704-1135	1,543	93	16.6	30.2%	1,003 (65.0%)	107 (6.9%)	277 (18.0%)	63 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	92 (6.0%)	87.6	58^th of 578 public middle schools	90.0%		85.1	76^th of 585 public middle schools	87.0%	18	100.0	57.9	55.8	71.8	47.4	66.4	98.4	$12,086	$243	$11,843
Mill Creek Middle School	Public	6-8	442 Arnold Mill Rd	Woodstock	30188	Cherokee County	Cherokee County	No	No	No	No	(770) 721-6400	1,476	88	16.7	31.5%	858 (58.1%)	103 (7.0%)	324 (22.0%)	82 (5.6%)	6 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	101 (6.8%)	83.9	77^th of 578 public middle schools	86.7%		85.7	74^th of 585 public middle schools	87.4%	3	100.0	56.8	64.6	64.1	41.1	53.5	94.0	$11,814	$331	$11,483
Freedom Middle School	Public	6-8	10550 Bells Ferry Rd	Canton	30114	Cherokee County	Cherokee County	No	No	No	No	(770) 704-1100	929	54	17.2	29.7%	643 (69.2%)	77 (8.3%)	136 (14.6%)	17 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (6.0%)	80.9	92^nd of 578 public middle schools	84.1%		80.4	99^th of 585 public middle schools	83.1%	7	100.0	45.1	58.5	66.3	35.6	67.2	100.0	$12,583	$301	$12,282
Creekland Middle School	Public	6-8	1555 Owens Store Rd	Canton	30115	Cherokee County	Cherokee County	No	No	No	No	(770) 704-4460	1,503	91	16.5	21.6%	1,181 (78.6%)	39 (2.6%)	182 (12.1%)	34 (2.3%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	60 (4.0%)	86.6	64^th of 578 public middle schools	88.9%		85.5	75^th of 585 public middle schools	87.2%	11	98.7	54.2	63.7	69.1	43.7	62.5	91.1	$12,133	$282	$11,851
Teasley Middle School	Public	6-8	151 Hickory Log Dr	Canton	30114	Cherokee County	Cherokee County	No	No	No	Yes	(770) 721-5420	1,586	112	14.1	58.6%	777 (49.0%)	110 (6.9%)	606 (38.2%)	12 (0.8%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	77 (4.9%)	55.5	233^rd of 578 public middle schools	59.7%		55.5	236^th of 585 public middle schools	59.7%	3	100.0	29.1	41.4	53.8	31.6	36.8	86.7	$13,565	$849	$12,715
Northwestern Middle School	Public	6-8	12805 Birmingham Hwy	Milton	30004	Fulton County	Fulton County	No	No	No	No	(470) 254-2870	1,167	83	14.1	11.1%	762 (65.3%)	102 (8.7%)	113 (9.7%)	135 (11.6%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	51 (4.4%)	93.4	17^th of 578 public middle schools	97.1%		96.4	21^st of 585 public middle schools	96.4%	4	97.6	69.4	66.0	78.1	54.3	73.4	89.8	$16,187	$521	$15,665
Mabry Middle School	Public	6-8	2700 Jims Rd NE	Marietta	30066	Cobb County	Cobb County	No	No	No	No	(770) 928-5546	938	57	16.4	14.5%	619 (66.0%)	75 (8.0%)	92 (9.8%)	97 (10.3%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	50 (5.3%)	91.8	35^th of 578 public middle schools	93.9%		95.5	29^th of 585 public middle schools	95.0%	6	100.0	66.2	65.1	81.3	48.5	66.8	89.1	$14,222	$320	$13,902
Woodstock Middle School	Public	6-8	2000 Towne Lake Hills South Dr	Woodstock	30189	Cherokee County	Cherokee County	No	No	No	No	(770) 721-3060	1,075	72	15.0	42.2%	496 (46.1%)	164 (15.3%)	286 (26.6%)	44 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	85 (7.9%)	84.2	74^th of 578 public middle schools	87.2%		75.3	126^th of 585 public middle schools	78.5%	52	100.0	56.6	54.3	64.8	49.8	56.1	96.9	$14,499	$296	$14,203
E. T. Booth Middle School	Public	6-8	6550 Putnam Ford Dr	Woodstock	30189	Cherokee County	Cherokee County	No	No	No	No	(770) 721-5500	1,675	110	15.2	40.8%	920 (54.9%)	202 (12.1%)	403 (24.1%)	60 (3.6%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	86 (5.1%)	79.2	102^nd of 578 public middle schools	82.4%		74.5	129^th of 585 public middle schools	77.9%	27	96.9	48.0	57.2	55.2	47.0	55.3	94.8	$12,428	$196	$12,233
Crabapple Middle School	Public	6-8	10900 Woodstock Rd.	Roswell	30075	Fulton County	Fulton County	No	No	No	No	(470) 254-4520	881	70	12.6	19.5%	594 (67.4%)	105 (11.9%)	112 (12.7%)	28 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (4.8%)	93.2	19^th of 578 public middle schools	96.7%		92.5	46^th of 585 public middle schools	92.1%	27	92.4	64.5	70.8	67.8	57.8	79.0	94.2	$16,985	$452	$16,533

Frequently Asked Questions about Dean Rusk Middle School

How many students attend Dean Rusk Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,543 students attended Dean Rusk Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Dean Rusk Middle School?

Students at Dean Rusk Middle School are 65% White, 18% Hispanic, 7% African American, 6% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Dean Rusk Middle School attend?

Students who attend Dean Rusk Middle School usually go on to attend Sequoyah High School

Is Dean Rusk Middle School a good school?

Dean Rusk Middle School ranks 58^th of 578 Georgia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 5 stars out of 5.

What district is Dean Rusk Middle School in?

Cherokee County

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)Aug 6, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.