Summary:
Zip code 30909 in Augusta, Georgia is served by two middle schools—Belair Middle School and Tutt Middle School—both part of the Richmond County School District, which ranks in the bottom 11% of Georgia districts.
Belair Middle School is the clear standout, ranking in the 12th percentile statewide compared to Tutt's 3rd percentile. Belair's most impressive result is its Algebra I End-of-Course proficiency rate of 83.4%, which towers over the district's 19.4% and even the state's 48.1%. Belair also exceeds district averages in 8th-grade math (28.7% vs. 22.4%), 8th-grade science (12.3% vs. 5.4%), and high school Physical Science (66.7% vs. 43.4%). In contrast, Tutt Middle School struggles across nearly every subject, with proficiency rates in the single digits for 6th and 7th-grade math, and just 1.3% in 8th-grade science. Tutt's Algebra I proficiency also dropped sharply from 39.1% to 22.9% in one year, while the district improved.
Chronic absenteeism is a critical differentiator: Tutt's rate is 37.2%—more than one in three students—compared to Belair's 26.2%, and both exceed the state average of 17.7%. Interestingly, Tutt actually spends more per student ($14,901 vs. $12,653) and has a better student-teacher ratio (13.1:1 vs. 17.2:1), yet achieves far worse outcomes, suggesting resources alone can't overcome the challenges of 100% poverty and high absenteeism. One rare bright spot for Tutt is 8th-grade social studies, where it slightly edges out Belair (9.0% vs. 7.7%), though both remain far below state averages. For parents, Belair offers a proven advanced math pathway and relative academic strength within a struggling district, while Tutt faces more severe challenges that will likely require intensive intervention, particularly around attendance and foundational skills.
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