Summary
Luella Middle School in Locust Grove, GA, serves approximately 849 students in grades 6-8 as part of Henry County Schools. The school has seen a gradual decline in its statewide ranking over the past decade, now placing in the bottom tier of Georgia middle schools with a 1-star rating, while serving a student body where about two-thirds qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Academically, Luella trails both district and state averages across most subjects. In the most recent testing cycle, math proficiency ranged from 15.6% to 20.7% depending on grade level, compared to state averages of 40.7-46.3%. Science proficiency was 15.3% versus the state's 29.7%, and social studies was particularly low at 9.4% compared to 40.2% statewide. One bright spot is Algebra I, where results have been volatile—ranging from 28.1% to 47.2% proficiency over recent years—with the 2024-2025 cohort actually exceeding both district and state averages. The school also shows encouraging, if modest, improvement in 6th grade math, rising from 8.9% to 20.7% proficiency over three years. Notably, Special Education students rank in the 41st percentile statewide, a relative strength compared to the school's overall performance.
Compared to nearby schools, Luella's performance is most similar to Eagle's Landing Middle School and McDonough Middle School, which serve similar demographics and also rank in the bottom 15-20% of Georgia middle schools. However, Union Grove Middle, just 10 miles away, achieves dramatically better results with a 74th percentile ranking. On a positive note, Luella's chronic absenteeism rate (17.3%) is below the district average (19.6%), suggesting good student engagement. Per-student spending has increased to $11,293, though this remains lower than several comparable schools, and the student-teacher ratio of 21.9:1 is higher than peers, indicating fewer resources per student.
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