Herschel Jones Middle School

Herschel Jones Middle School in Dallas, GA, serves 728 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Paulding County School District, and has seen its statewide ranking decline over the past decade to the 28th percentile, with a 1-star rating.

The school's most striking strength is its Algebra I performance: 87.5% of students scored proficient or better in 2025-2026, nearly double the district average (46%) and well above the state (48.1%). This is a remarkable achievement, especially given that grade-level math proficiency is much lower—ranging from 14.7% in 6th grade to 28.4% in 8th grade, compared to state averages of 40-46%. This suggests the school is doing an excellent job preparing its advanced math students, but the majority of students in standard math classes are struggling. Science scores improved significantly from 14.1% to 26.3% proficiency, though they remain below the state average. However, 8th grade social studies proficiency (21.2%) is roughly half the district average (42%).

Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 24.2% of students missing significant school time—higher than the district (16.8%) and state (17.7%) averages. The school also serves a high-poverty population, with 71.7% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, up from 61.3% two years ago. When compared to nearby schools, the contrast is stark: Sammy McClure Senior Middle School (10 miles away) ranks in the 95th percentile with 61.3% 6th grade math proficiency, while Lena Mae Moses Middle School (3 miles away) ranks in the 64th percentile with 34.2% proficiency. Herschel Jones spends $13,789 per student and maintains a favorable 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio, yet outcomes lag significantly behind peers. The school's path forward likely involves addressing absenteeism, expanding Algebra I strategies to all math classes, and building on its relatively stronger performance with special education and African American students to improve outcomes across all groups.