Summary:
Zip code 31516, encompassing Blackshear, Georgia, is home to a single middle school, Pierce County Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 with an enrollment of 825 students within the Pierce County School District.
Pierce County Middle School is a standout performer, ranking 34th out of 578 Georgia middle schools (94th percentile) and earning a 5-star rating for the 2025-2026 school year. This represents a remarkable climb from 86th place just two years prior, demonstrating sustained improvement. The school's greatest strength is science, where 69.6% of 8th graders are proficient compared to the state average of just 29.7%. It also excels in math, with proficiency rates ranging from 56% to 73% across grades, all well above state averages. Notably, this academic success occurs despite 88% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, making it a compelling example of high achievement in a high-poverty setting. The school also boasts a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 6.6%, less than half the state's 17.7%, and maintains a favorable 14:1 student-teacher ratio.
While the school outperforms the state in every subject, there are areas to watch. Year-over-year, 7th and 8th grade math scores declined, and social studies saw a significant drop from 80% to 66.6% proficiency, though it still leads the state by 26 points. English Language Arts (ELA) scores from the 2024-2025 school year, the most recent available, are the school's relative weak point, particularly in 7th grade where only 46.7% of students were proficient. Overall, Pierce County Middle School is an exceptional school that defies expectations, offering a rigorous academic environment and strong support systems for its students.
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