Summary:
ZIP code 30132 in Dallas, Georgia, is served by three middle schools—Lena Mae Moses Middle School, Sammy McClure Senior Middle School, and Herschel Jones Middle School—all part of the Paulding County School District, serving grades 6–8 with a combined enrollment of roughly 2,500 students.
The standout in this area is Sammy McClure Senior Middle School, which earned a 5-star rating and ranks 31st out of 578 Georgia middle schools (95th percentile). Its math proficiency rates range from 61% to 67% across grades, and its 8th-grade social studies proficiency (78.8%) is nearly double the state average. At the other end, Herschel Jones Middle School holds a 1-star rating, ranking 415th (28th percentile), with math proficiency between 15% and 28%—well below district averages. Lena Mae Moses Middle School sits in the middle with a 3-star rating (64th percentile), posting math proficiency from 34% to 48% and showing strong recent gains in 8th-grade science (jumping from 17.3% to 44.3%).
Key differences extend beyond test scores. Herschel Jones has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (24.2%) and the highest poverty concentration (71.7% free/reduced lunch), yet it also spends the most per student ($13,789) and has the most favorable student-teacher ratio (13.8:1). Sammy McClure, by contrast, has the lowest poverty rate (24.8%) and the least favorable student-teacher ratio (16.6:1), but achieves the best outcomes. All three schools post exceptionally high Algebra I proficiency (87.5%–98.8%) compared to the district average of 46%, indicating selective placement into that advanced course. For families, the choice is stark: Sammy McClure offers top-tier performance, Lena Mae Moses provides solid mid-range results, and Herschel Jones faces significant challenges that additional funding has not yet overcome.
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