Lost Mountain Middle School

Lost Mountain Middle School in Kennesaw, GA, serves 979 students in grades 6–8 and is one of the top-performing middle schools in the state, ranking 21st out of 578 schools (96th percentile) and earning a 5-star rating. The school has been remarkably consistent for a decade, never falling below the 89th percentile statewide, and it stands out for its exceptional math and social studies results, very low chronic absenteeism, and strong outcomes across all student groups.

In math, the school’s results are extraordinary. For the 2025-2026 school year, 82.9% of 8th graders were proficient in math, compared to 55.4% in the Cobb County district and 46.3% statewide. Every single student who took the Algebra I End of Course assessment scored proficient—a perfect 100%—a feat the school has achieved or nearly achieved for four straight years. Social studies is another standout: 79.7% of students were proficient, versus 52.3% district and 40.2% state averages. The school also ranks 5th in the state for African American student performance (top 1% of all Georgia middle schools), and its chronic absenteeism rate of 6.2% is less than half the state average of 17.7%.

Compared to nearby schools, Lost Mountain clearly leads the pack. While McClure Middle School is nearly tied in overall ranking (22nd), Lost Mountain beats it in 8th grade math (82.9% vs. 75.6%) and social studies (79.7% vs. 71.3%). Even when compared to Durham Middle School—which has nearly identical demographics—Lost Mountain outperforms it in every subject. The school also achieves these results efficiently, spending $13,726 per student, which is less than several lower-ranked nearby schools. Science is the one relative area for growth (46.4% proficient), though it still far exceeds district and state averages. With ELA scores not yet released for this year, the full picture is pending, but historical trends suggest continued strong performance.