Summary:
Zip code 31501 in Waycross, Georgia, is served by a single middle school, Waycross Middle School, which educates students in grades 6 through 8 within the Ware County School District.
Waycross Middle School is a school of striking contrasts, serving a student body where over 90% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Its most remarkable strength is in advanced math: the Algebra I End of Course proficiency rate is an extraordinary 90.9%, nearly double the state average of 48.1% and far above the district's 62.9%. This is a sustained achievement, as the school posted a 94.1% proficiency rate the previous year. The school also outperforms the state in 8th grade science (35.3% vs. 29.7%). However, standard math proficiency is a challenge, particularly in 7th grade, where only 21.8% of students are proficient—a significant 20-point gap from the state average. In contrast, 8th grade math proficiency (45.7%) is nearly on par with the state (46.3%), suggesting students make substantial progress during the year.
The school is on an upward trajectory, improving its state ranking from the 42nd percentile to the 50th percentile and earning a 3-star rating. Year-over-year gains were seen in 6th grade math (+6.1 points), 8th grade math (+8.0 points), and 8th grade social studies (+7.9 points). The most concerning trend is a 7.2-point drop in 7th grade math, which appears to be the school's primary area for targeted intervention. With a favorable 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $14,744, the school appears to allocate resources effectively, particularly in advanced math and science. Chronic absenteeism (18.5%) is slightly below the district average but above the state, leaving room for improvement. Overall, Waycross Middle School demonstrates that high-poverty schools can achieve excellence in specific areas while showing promising momentum for continued growth.
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