Redan Middle School

Redan Middle School in Lithonia, GA, serves 623 students in grades 6-8 as part of the DeKalb County School District, where all students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Georgia middle schools over the past decade, currently placing 481st out of 578 schools (17th percentile) with a 1-star rating.

There are several encouraging signs worth noting. Chronic absenteeism has dropped significantly from 44.3% in 2022-2023 to 33.2% in 2025-2026, though it remains nearly double the state average. Math proficiency shows a clear upward trajectory as students progress: only 8.1% of 6th graders are proficient, but that rises to 15.4% for 7th graders and 22.9% for 8th graders—a 14-point jump in 8th grade math proficiency over three years. Science performance is the school's relative strength, with 21.5% proficiency, close to the district average. However, social studies remains a major concern at 11.4% proficiency versus the state's 40.2%. The school also spends more per student ($21,337) than nearby Freedom Middle ($17,715) and Lithonia Middle ($17,381), yet outcomes lag behind The Champion Middle Theme School, which serves a similar population with 87% free/reduced lunch eligibility but achieves a 56th percentile ranking and just 7.3% chronic absenteeism.

English Language Learner (ELL) students at Redan rank last in the state (0th percentile), and special education students rank in the 5th percentile, indicating urgent need for targeted support. African American students perform relatively better than the school's overall ranking (23rd percentile). The strong correlation between attendance and achievement across nearby schools—with The Champion Middle Theme School showing the lowest absenteeism and best results—suggests that continuing to reduce chronic absenteeism could be one of the most impactful strategies for improving academic outcomes at Redan.