Summary:
Zip code 31211 in Macon, Georgia, is home to two middle schools serving grades 6-8—Appling Middle School in Bibb County and Clifton Ridge Middle School in Jones County—that together serve about 1,159 students but deliver vastly different academic outcomes.
Clifton Ridge Middle School is the clear standout, ranking in the 57th percentile statewide (251 of 578) with 3 stars. It outperforms its district and state averages in nearly every subject, including exceptional results in advanced coursework: 88.9% proficiency in both Algebra I and High School Physical Science, compared to state averages of 48.1% and 60.9%. The school also showed strong year-over-year gains, particularly in Social Studies (37.8% to 53.8%) and Algebra I (77.3% to 88.9%). In contrast, Appling Middle School ranks in the 9th percentile statewide (528 of 578) with 0 stars and falls below its district average in most subjects. The gap is stark: in 8th grade math, Clifton Ridge's proficiency rate (37.9%) is more than three times higher than Appling's (12.3%), and in Science, Clifton Ridge (38.6%) dwarfs Appling (7.4%).
Despite similar per-student spending (about $14,400–$14,600), the schools differ significantly in socioeconomic composition, with 73.56% of Appling students qualifying for free/reduced lunch versus 45.23% at Clifton Ridge. Interestingly, Appling has lower chronic absenteeism (14.9%) than Clifton Ridge (21.7%), yet Clifton Ridge still achieves far stronger results. Appling did show encouraging improvements in several subjects, including a threefold increase in Social Studies (4.5% to 14.1%) and gains in 6th and 7th grade math, though its Algebra I proficiency declined from 52.2% to 37.0%. For families in this zip code, school choice matters enormously—Clifton Ridge offers substantially stronger academics, while Appling faces significant challenges but is showing signs of progress in key areas.
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