Northeast Middle School

Northeast Middle School in Tifton, GA, serves 733 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Tift County school district, and it has made remarkable strides in recent years, climbing from the 20th to the 51st percentile in statewide rankings and earning a 3-star rating.

The school’s standout achievement is its Algebra I program. In 2025-2026, an impressive 94.6% of students scored proficient or better—nearly double the district average (33.7%) and far above the state average (48.1%). This isn’t a one-time fluke; the school has posted proficiency rates above 75% for three straight years. Science is another bright spot, with 8th graders exceeding the state average (34.1% vs. 29.7%) for three consecutive years. Social studies has also improved dramatically, doubling from 20.2% proficiency in 2022-2023 to 40.5% in 2025-2026. However, grade-level math remains a challenge—only about 27-37% of students in grades 6-8 meet proficiency—and chronic absenteeism (25.9%) is higher than both the district (24.0%) and state (17.7%) rates. The school also faces significant gaps for English Language Learners and Special Education students, who rank in the single digits statewide.

Compared to nearby schools, Northeast sits in the middle of the pack. It far outperforms Turner County Middle School (12th percentile) but trails Worth County Middle School (56th percentile) and Irwin County Middle School (62nd percentile) in most subjects. Within its own district, Eighth Street Middle School (66th percentile) outperforms Northeast in math and social studies, though Northeast’s Algebra I results are nearly comparable (94.6% vs. 100%). Both schools serve 100% free/reduced lunch populations with similar spending, making Northeast’s rapid improvement—especially in Algebra I and science—a promising sign that its upward trajectory may continue.