Summary:
Zip code 30064 in Marietta, Georgia, is served by two middle schools—Marietta Middle School and Smitha Middle School—which together educate about 2,218 students in grades 6-8 across two different districts, Marietta City and Cobb County.
These neighboring schools offer starkly different academic profiles. Marietta Middle School is the clear academic leader, holding a 4-star rating and ranking in the 70th percentile statewide. Its advanced coursework results are exceptional: 99.2% of students passed Algebra I and 93.4% passed HS Physical Science, both far exceeding state averages. However, its grade-level proficiency is more modest, with 43.7% of 7th graders and 48% of 8th graders meeting math standards. Smitha Middle School faces greater challenges, with a 1-star rating and 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Yet Smitha achieves a perfect 100% Algebra I pass rate—actually edging out Marietta—while struggling in other areas, particularly 8th grade science at just 7.2% proficiency versus Marietta's 36.5%. Smitha also has lower chronic absenteeism (14.5%) than Marietta (19.5%), despite its higher poverty rate.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Marietta Middle School offers a stronger overall academic environment, especially for students ready for advanced coursework, with a steady upward trend in its state ranking. Smitha Middle School demonstrates that high achievement is possible even under difficult circumstances, particularly in math, but families should be aware of significant gaps in science and social studies. Both schools spend similarly per student (around $17,000), yet outcomes differ dramatically, suggesting school-level factors matter more than district affiliation. Note that ELA scores are not included in this release and will arrive in December, so no conclusions should be drawn about reading or writing performance from this data.
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