Summary:
Zip code 31036, encompassing the Hawkinsville, Georgia area, is served by a single middle school, Pulaski County Middle School, which educates 288 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Pulaski County district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that Pulaski County Middle School serves a student body where 100% qualify for free or reduced lunch, a clear indicator of widespread economic need. Academically, the school faces significant challenges, with proficiency rates in math, science, and social studies trailing state averages by roughly 12 to 24 percentage points. Math scores declined across all grade levels from the previous year, with 8th grade dropping by nearly 8 points to 22.2% proficiency. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern, affecting 28.4% of students compared to the state rate of 17.7%. On a positive note, 8th grade social studies proficiency nearly doubled from 14.0% to 27.7%, showing that meaningful improvement is possible. Additionally, last year’s 7th grade English Language Arts proficiency (43.0%) actually exceeded the state average, suggesting literacy instruction may be a relative strength, though new ELA scores are pending release in December.
The school’s state ranking has slipped from the 34th to the 26th percentile over the past three years, and its test scores mirror district averages exactly, meaning there are no other middle schools in the area to compare against. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.8:1 and per-student spending of $12,522, the school is investing resources, but outcomes remain below state benchmarks. The combination of 100% poverty, high absenteeism, and declining math performance points to systemic hurdles. However, the social studies gains and relative ELA strength offer hope. Parents should watch the December ELA release closely to see if literacy improvements are sustained, and consider how the school’s supportive resources might offset the academic gaps.
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