Summary:
Zip code 31313 in Hinesville, Georgia, is served by two middle schools—Snelson-Golden Middle School and Lewis Frasier Middle School—both part of the Liberty County school district, which ranks in the bottom half of Georgia districts with a 2-star rating.
Lewis Frasier is the more consistently strong performer. It ranks 368th in the state (36th percentile), up 49 spots over two years, and boasts a chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.5%—far better than the district's 28.4% and even below the state's 17.7%. It also leads in 8th grade Social Studies (36.3% proficient vs. Snelson-Golden's 20.6%) and 8th grade Math (30.7% vs. 25.7%). Snelson-Golden, while ranking lower overall (410th, 29th percentile), is a standout in advanced coursework: its Algebra I proficiency is an extraordinary 94.5% (nearly double the state's 48.1%), and its HS Physical Science rate of 94.7% far exceeds the state's 60.9%. Both schools outperform their district's averages in these advanced subjects, though both lag state averages in standard grade-level math and science. Snelson-Golden also showed a dramatic 30.9-point jump in Algebra I proficiency in one year, while Lewis Frasier saw slight declines in most grade-level subjects year-over-year.
Both schools serve predominantly low-income populations (93-100% free/reduced lunch) with similar per-student spending, yet Lewis Frasier's superior attendance and stronger overall results suggest factors like school culture and instructional practices matter. Both schools have improved their state rankings over three years, and both remain below state averages in most standard subjects. Note that current ELA scores are not yet available—they will be released in December—so a complete picture of achievement is still pending. For parents, Lewis Frasier offers more consistent grade-level performance and better attendance, while Snelson-Golden is the clear choice for students ready for advanced math and science coursework.
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