Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 30060

Zip code 30060 in Marietta, Georgia, is served by two very different middle school options: Pearson Middle School in the Cobb County district and Marietta Sixth Grade Academy in the Marietta City district, together serving about 1,484 students. Pearson is a traditional grades 6-8 school with 806 students, while Marietta Sixth Grade Academy is a dedicated sixth-grade campus with 678 students, so families should note that the latter only covers one year before students move elsewhere for 7th and 8th grades.

Academically, these schools are starkly different. Marietta Sixth Grade Academy posts strong results, with 54.2% of students proficient in 6th grade math—well above the state average of 40.7%—and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 13.3%, better than both its district (19.8%) and the state (17.7%). Pearson Middle School, by contrast, struggles with grade-level proficiency: only 22.2% of 6th graders, 18.6% of 7th graders, and 17.4% of 8th graders are proficient in math, and just 8% of 8th graders are proficient in science versus 29.7% statewide. However, Pearson shows a remarkable paradox: 88% of its Algebra I students are proficient, nearly double the state rate, and 68.9% pass HS Physical Science, also above the state average. This suggests Pearson excels at accelerating its top students while the majority need more support.

Pearson has been improving, with math scores rising across all grades year-over-year and social studies jumping from 16.3% to 34% proficiency, though science dipped slightly. The school serves a 100% free/reduced lunch population and spends $16,353 per student, about $1,600 less than Marietta Sixth Grade Academy, which serves 65% low-income students. Chronic absenteeism at Pearson (19.1%) exceeds the state average, likely a key area for intervention. English Language Arts scores for 2025-2026 are not yet available and will be released in December; the most recent data shows Pearson's ELA proficiency in the low-to-mid 20s while Marietta Sixth Grade Academy hit 48.8%, above the state's 41.3%. For parents, Marietta Sixth Grade Academy offers a focused, high-performing single-grade option, while Pearson provides a traditional middle school experience with pockets of excellence and clear room for growth.