Pelham City Middle School

Pelham City Middle School serves 287 students in grades 6-8 in Pelham, GA, within the Pelham City school district, and has shown steady, meaningful improvement in recent years.

This is a school on a clear upward trajectory. In the 2025-2026 school year, Pelham City Middle School earned a 2-star rating and ranked in the 35th percentile of Georgia middle schools—a significant jump from the 26th percentile the year before and a remarkable climb from the 15th percentile five years ago. One of the school's standout strengths is attendance: only 9.3% of students are chronically absent, which is nearly half the state average of 17.7% and far better than nearby Baker County Middle School (34.3%) or Mitchell County Middle School (18.4%). Academically, 8th grade math proficiency has risen from 20% to 35.1% over three years, and 8th grade science (27.3%) now nearly matches the state average (29.7%), outperforming both Washington Middle School (10.9%) and Baker County (13%) in that subject. Social studies has also improved dramatically, from 12.6% to 33.8%.

While proficiency rates in most subjects still trail the state average, the momentum is real and consistent. Math scores improve with each grade level—6th grade at 13.9%, 7th at 23.8%, and 8th at 35.1%—suggesting students build skills cumulatively. The school serves a student population where 100% qualify for free or reduced lunch, and per-student spending has increased to $13,776, with a supportive 13:1 student-teacher ratio. Compared to neighbors, Pelham spends less than Mitchell County ($19,931) and Baker County ($17,594) yet achieves better outcomes than Baker County, indicating efficient use of resources. With dramatically reduced absenteeism and rising scores across multiple subjects, Pelham City Middle School is a school to watch—one that is making genuine, sustained progress in serving its community.