Summary:
Zip code 30014 in Covington, Georgia, is served by two middle schools—Indian Creek Middle School and Cousins Middle School—both part of the Newton County school district, which ranks in the bottom quintile of Georgia districts. These schools serve grades 6 through 8 and collectively enroll about 1,406 students in an area marked by very high poverty, with nearly all students eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Comparing the two, Cousins Middle School is the stronger overall performer, showing three consecutive years of state ranking improvement (from 504th to 452nd) and posting notably better scores in 6th grade math (28% vs. 17.5%), 7th grade math (24.6% vs. 17%), and 8th grade social studies (24.1% vs. 17.4%). Cousins also achieved 50% proficiency in Algebra I, matching the state average. However, Indian Creek Middle School has its own standout: an exceptional 66.7% proficiency in Algebra I—far above the state average of 48.1% and nearly triple the district's 24.3%—plus a 52% score in high school physical science. Indian Creek also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (21.6% vs. 26.5%), though both schools exceed the state's 17.7% average.
Both schools face significant challenges, with proficiency rates in core subjects like 8th grade science (10.6% and 8.6%) and 8th grade math (15.6% and 15.9%) running 20 to 25 points below state averages. The dramatic gap between strong Algebra I results and weak grade-level math suggests only a select group of advanced students is taking that course. Cousins spends about $1,500 more per student ($15,706 vs. $14,218) and shows better results in several areas, but Indian Creek outperforms it in advanced courses. For parents, the key takeaway is that while both schools struggle with overall proficiency, Cousins shows a promising upward trend, and Indian Creek demonstrates that its top math students can compete at state levels—making it worth asking about advanced course placement and attendance support at either school.
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