Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 30281

There are four middle schools serving zip code 30281 in the Stockbridge, Georgia area, all covering grades 6 through 8, with three belonging to the Henry County district and one to the Rockdale County district.

Austin Road Middle School is the clear academic leader in this group, ranking in the 43rd percentile statewide and showing steady improvement over the past two years. Its Algebra I proficiency rate of 97.2% is extraordinary—more than double the state average—and it also leads in 8th grade science and social studies. General Ray Davis Middle School is a strong performer within its district, with Algebra I proficiency at 84% (triple the Rockdale County average) and 8th grade math nearly matching the state average, though its overall ranking has dropped significantly from the 64th to 41st percentile. Woodland Middle School has the best attendance in the area at just 9.4% chronic absenteeism and spends the most per student ($15,677), yet its academic results are middling, ranking 34th percentile. Stockbridge Middle School is the most challenged, ranking in the bottom 10th percentile with the highest chronic absenteeism (23.9%), highest poverty rate (81.6% free/reduced lunch), and the lowest scores in nearly every subject—its 8th grade social studies proficiency of just 9.2% is particularly concerning.

A striking pattern across all four schools is the gap between advanced and grade-level performance. Every school exceeds the state average in Algebra I, yet all fall well below state averages in 6th and 7th grade math, suggesting strong support for accelerated students while the majority struggle with grade-level content. There is no clear relationship between spending and outcomes—Woodland spends the most but ranks third, while Austin Road spends the least among Henry County schools yet achieves the best results. For families, the choice matters greatly: Austin Road offers the strongest overall academics, while Stockbridge presents significant challenges. However, rankings can shift dramatically year to year, as seen with General Ray Davis, so it is wise to look at multi-year trends rather than a single snapshot. Note that English Language Arts scores are not included in this release and will be available in December.