Summary:
Zip code 30097 in the Duluth, Georgia area is home to two middle schools—Hull Middle School and River Trail Middle School—both serving grades 6 through 8 with combined enrollment of over 2,300 students, though they belong to different districts: Gwinnett County for Hull and Fulton County for River Trail.
River Trail Middle School is the standout performer, ranking #3 in Georgia (99th percentile) with exceptional results across the board: 100% proficiency in Algebra I, 99.1% in HS Physical Science, and 84.3% in 8th grade math—all far above state averages. It also boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 3.6% and a student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1, supported by higher per-student spending of $15,630. In contrast, Hull Middle School ranks #82 in the state (86th percentile) and shows strong but less consistent performance, with 94.9% Algebra I proficiency and 71.6% in 8th grade math. Hull serves a more economically diverse population (40.96% free/reduced lunch vs. 14.48% at River Trail) and has a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 7.5%, though it still outperforms its district and state averages in most subjects.
Both schools significantly exceed their respective district averages—for example, Hull's 6th grade math proficiency (68.7%) is 20 points above its district, and River Trail's 7th grade math (87.3%) is 35 points above its district. The key differences come down to resources and demographics: River Trail benefits from nearly $3,000 more per student and a lower student-teacher ratio, while Hull achieves solid results with fewer resources and a more diverse student body. Hull's state ranking has slipped from #52 to #82 over two years, but its math scores actually improved, suggesting other schools are catching up rather than Hull declining. For families, River Trail offers elite, top-tier academics with minimal absenteeism, while Hull provides strong, above-average performance in a more economically varied environment—both are excellent choices compared to state norms.
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