Summary:
Zip code 31721 in Albany, Georgia, is home to just one middle school, Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet, which serves grades 6 through 8 and operates within the Dougherty County school district.
Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet is an exceptional outlier in this area, ranking #4 in the entire state of Georgia and earning a 5-star rating. Despite 96% of its 478 students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school dramatically outperforms both district and state averages in every subject. For example, 86.2% of 6th graders are proficient in math compared to just 27.9% district-wide and 40.7% statewide, while 8th grade social studies proficiency stands at 79.2% versus 23.1% for the district. The school also achieves a perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra I End of Course exam for the second consecutive year, a staggering contrast to the 24% district average. Chronic absenteeism is nearly nonexistent at just 5.4%, compared to 24.4% for the district and 17.7% statewide, which likely fuels the school’s academic success.
While the school’s trajectory is strongly positive—climbing from #14 to #4 in state rankings over three years—there is one area to watch: 8th grade science proficiency dropped from 77.5% to 66.5% year-over-year, an 11-point decline, though it still outpaces the state by nearly 37 points. Additionally, 7th grade math dipped slightly from 85.3% to 78.9%. For parents considering this school, the data paints a picture of a highly effective magnet program with strong leadership and engaged students, delivering results that are two to three times higher than state averages across most subjects. The school’s low absenteeism and consistent improvement suggest it is a top-tier choice for families in the Albany area seeking rigorous academics.
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