Georgetown Middle

Georgetown Middle in Georgetown, SC, serves 671 students in grades 6 through 8 and is the largest middle school in the Georgetown 01 district, with nearly all students coming from low-income households.

Academically, this school faces significant challenges. It currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the bottom quarter of South Carolina middle schools (18th percentile). Proficiency rates are well below district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade level. For example, only 21.4% of 7th graders were proficient in math, and 44% of 8th graders were proficient in English Language Arts. The contrast with Waccamaw Middle, a nearby school in the same district, is stark: Waccamaw ranks in the 97th percentile with a 5-star rating, and its proficiency rates are often double or triple those at Georgetown Middle. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern, with 25.5% of students missing significant school time—higher than both the district and state averages, and well above Waccamaw's 14.6%.

There are, however, some bright spots. Students taking the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam achieved a remarkable 95% proficiency rate, far exceeding district and state averages—a sign that advanced math instruction is working well. The school's Gifted and Talented program is also improving, jumping from the 23rd to the 57th percentile in just two years. At the same time, the school's effectiveness with its largest group—low-income students—has declined, dropping to the 7th percentile. Per-student spending at Georgetown Middle ($14,543) is comparable to higher-performing schools in the district, suggesting that the challenges here are complex and not simply a matter of funding. For parents, this is a school with real struggles but also pockets of excellence, particularly for advanced learners.