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Waycross Middle School

Q: Is Waycross Middle School a good school?

Waycross Middle School ranks 288 th of 578 Georgia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

288^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 578 Georgia Middle Schools

Better than 50% of Georgia middle schools

Summary

Waycross Middle School in Waycross, GA, serves 606 students in grades 6-8 within the Ware County School District, and has earned a 3-star rating with a 50th percentile state ranking—its best showing in several years.

The standout story here is Algebra I. An extraordinary 90.9% of Waycross Middle School students scored proficient or better on the Algebra I End of Course assessment, compared to just 48.1% statewide. This isn't a one-year fluke—the school has posted 94-100% proficiency in this subject for four straight years. Eighth-grade math is also on the rise, climbing from 37.7% to 45.7% proficiency in two years, now nearly matching the state average. Science scores also beat the state average (35.3% vs. 29.7%). However, the picture is more mixed in earlier grades: only 31.6% of 6th graders and 21.8% of 7th graders were proficient in math, well below state averages. This suggests the school excels at accelerating its strongest math students while grade-level math remains a challenge for many. Notably, male students rank higher statewide (53rd percentile) than female students (41st percentile), pointing to an area for potential targeted support.

Compared to nearby schools, Waycross holds its own in some areas but trails in others. Pierce County Middle School, just 10.8 miles away, ranks in the 94th percentile with dramatically higher proficiency across most subjects—73% in 6th grade math versus Waycross's 31.6%. Yet Waycross's Algebra I results actually exceed Pierce County's overall math performance. Brantley County Middle School also outperforms Waycross in 8th grade math and science. Meanwhile, Ware County Middle School is nearly identical in ranking and performance, despite serving fewer low-income students. A bright spot: chronic absenteeism has dropped from 24.9% to 18.5%, now below the district average. With per-student spending of $14,744 and a favorable 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio, the school has resources to build on its momentum—especially if it can replicate its 8th grade math gains in earlier grades.

606

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,744

Per pupil spending ?

90.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

700 Central Ave
Waycross, GA 31501

(912) 287-2333

District: Ware County

Students who attend Waycross Middle School usually attend:

High:

Ware County High School

Feeder schools for Waycross Middle School:

Elementary:	Center Elementary School
	Memorial Drive Elementary School
	Williams Heights Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

48.3%

White:

36.6%

Hispanic:

7.3%

See top rated Georgia middle schools

Compare Waycross Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Test scores delayed: 2026 rankings for Georgia do not yet include English Language Arts scores, which will not be released by the Georgia Department of Education until winter 2026.

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2016 → 50th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Georgia median (50th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Georgia average (35% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg39%

Georgia avg42%

288^th of 578

Georgia public middle schools ?

Top 50%▼ down 14 pts since 2016

From top 35% (2016) to top 50% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Georgia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Middle Schools in the Ware County

67^th of 201Ware County among Georgia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	45.8	288 of 578	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.2	339 of 585	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.5	331 of 578	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.9	282 of 569	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.1	327 of 558	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.4	289 of 542	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.7	305 of 559	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.5	296 of 543	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	50.7	252 of 539	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	59.6	193 of 545	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.2	187 of 537	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	67.6	164 of 521	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.5	194 of 527	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	68.0	155 of 508	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	66.4	169 of 504	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.2	178 of 494	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.2	147 of 466	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	54.8	224 of 462	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	65.8	143 of 445	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	49.7	242 of 420	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	260 of 480	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.2	336 of 494	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.4	357 of 489	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.1	320 of 485	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.9	337 of 482	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	38.0	325 of 550	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.8	373 of 567	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.7	353 of 558	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.1	273 of 553	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.0	315 of 544	42.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2025	43.8	206 of 400	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.6	180 of 381	52.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	50.5	260 of 550	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.9	286 of 569	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.2	309 of 561	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.5	276 of 559	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.0	324 of 553	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2023	19.0	136 of 157	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.3	134 of 159	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2024	13.4	159 of 172	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.5	155 of 163	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	35.6	248 of 425	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.8	164 of 442	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.7	268 of 437	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.5	136 of 429	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	25.6	353 of 431	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Georgia percentile	Rating
2026	45.9	216 of 404	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.3	236 of 415	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.9	220 of 417	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.8	182 of 429	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.1	207 of 425	51.3%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2026)53rd percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)48th percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)47th percentile-4 vs school

African American (2026)46th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2026)42nd percentile-9 vs school

Female (2026)41st percentile-9 vs school

Migrant (2023)13th percentile-37 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)8th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Georgia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I91%+43 vs state

Social Studies37%-4 vs state

Science35%+6 vs state

Mathematics32%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Waycross Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Milestones Assessment Algebra I (2026)	Milestones Assessment Mathematics (2026)			Milestones Assessment Science (2026)	Milestones Assessment Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Milestones Assessment Algebra I End of Course	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Milestones Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Science 8th Grade	Milestones Assessment Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Waycross Middle School	Public	6-8	700 Central Ave	Waycross	31501	Ware County	Ware County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 287-2333	606	48	12.6	90.8%	222 (36.6%)	293 (48.3%)	44 (7.3%)	7 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (6.6%)	45.8	288^th of 578 public middle schools	50.2%		40.2	339^th of 585 public middle schools	42.1%	51	90.9	31.6	21.8	45.7	35.3	36.7	$14,744	$1,364	$13,380
Ware County Middle School	Public	6-8	2301 Cherokee St	Waycross	31503	Ware County	Ware County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 287-2341	752	65	11.6	80.5%	401 (53.3%)	209 (27.8%)	81 (10.8%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	55 (7.3%)	46.1	286^th of 578 public middle schools	50.5%		45.3	297^th of 585 public middle schools	49.2%	11	100.0	30.8	27.7	39.1	37.7	34.2	$14,743	$1,118	$13,625
Pierce County Middle School	Public	6-8	5216 County Farm Rd	Blackshear	31516	Pierce County	Pierce County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 449-2077	825	59	14.0	88.0%	627 (76.0%)	68 (8.2%)	81 (9.8%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.2%)	91.9	34^th of 578 public middle schools	94.1%		88.8	60^th of 585 public middle schools	89.7%	26		73.0	56.0	69.3	69.6	66.6	$12,190	$603	$11,587
Brantley County Middle School	Public	7-8	10990 Highway 82	Nahunta	31553	Brantley County	Brantley County	No	No	No	Yes	(912) 462-7092	493	37	13.3	95.1%	449 (91.1%)	9 (1.8%)	17 (3.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.2%)								(n/a)			35.2	54.7			$13,355	$1,060	$12,295

Frequently Asked Questions about Waycross Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Waycross Middle School?

Students at Waycross Middle School are 48% African American, 37% White, 7% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Waycross Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 606 students attended Waycross Middle School.

Is Waycross Middle School a good school?

Waycross Middle School ranks 288^th of 578 Georgia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Waycross Middle School attend?

Students who attend Waycross Middle School usually go on to attend Ware County High School

What district is Waycross Middle School in?

Ware County

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Schools in Waycross, GA

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Latest Georgia data All new data »

2025–26 attendance dataNewAug 6, 2026

2025–26 Milestones Assessment scoresNewAug 6, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 Milestones Assessment scores (updated)NewAug 6, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesFeb 19, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.