Gordon Lee Middle School, Chickamauga GA

Original Research by School Decision on Gordon Lee Middle School

Gordon Lee Middle School is a small public school serving grades six through eight in Chickamauga, Georgia. The school enrolls students from within the city limits as part of Chickamauga City Schools, one of the few remaining independent city school systems in Georgia. The enrollment is modest, with roughly equal cohorts across the three grades.

The student body is predominantly white, with a small number of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students, and economically, about a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with IEPs and English learners was not available.

On standardized state tests administered in spring 2025, Gordon Lee's academic performance is mixed. In math, the school's results trend downward across grades: sixth graders show proficiency above the midpoint, seventh graders perform solidly, but eighth-grade math proficiency drops noticeably. Across all grades, the school's overall math proficiency sits above the midpoint relative to other districts in Walker County. In English language arts, all three grades cluster around the midpoint or just below. In eighth-grade science, where testing occurs, proficiency is notably below the midpoint, and in eighth-grade social studies, results are slightly above the midpoint. Taken as a whole, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among the county's districts.

The school sits in a compact residential city of about mid-size population that functions as a bedroom community for the broader Chattanooga metro area. Chickamauga has preserved its historic downtown around a few walkable blocks with antique and specialty shops, cafes, and restaurants. The city is experiencing rapid new residential construction; Walker County issued multiple building permits in recent years, and new subdivisions and senior communities are currently delivering homes. Housing values in the area are below both state and national benchmarks, making the community accessible to families priced out of pricier markets. The median home value is in a range that reflects solid, affordable family housing.

At the district level, parents moving into the area should be aware of structural considerations. Chickamauga City Schools has leveraged a voter-approved one-cent sales tax to fund capital improvements, including fire alarm system work at Gordon Lee Middle and new athletic facilities at the high school. The district also accepted Georgia's new statewide floating homestead exemption in 2025, meaning that longtime homeowners see capped annual property tax assessment growth, while new homebuyers, renters, and non-homestead owners bear a relatively larger tax burden. The district maintains a millage rate but, because assessed values have risen sharply with new construction, effective property tax collection has grown in recent years and is expected to continue. The district ranks lower in system wealth compared to most Georgia districts and relies on equalization funding from the state, a structural reality that shapes both the district's fiscal situation and its per-pupil resources over time.

For families considering the area, Gordon Lee offers a small-school environment in an affordable, growing residential community with active construction and an accessible price point. The academic profile shows strength in math and overall proficiency standing, though science results are a softer area that a parent may want to look into further with the school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 666%

School 66% · District 66%

▲ 34 pts above state median

Grade 776%

School 76% · District 76%

▲ 42 pts above state median

Grade 856%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 14 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 655%

School 55% · District 55%

▲ 19 pts above state median

Grade 754%

School 54% · District 54%

▲ 19 pts above state median

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 50%

▲ 14 pts above state median

Science

Grade 843%

School 43% · District 43%

▲ 17 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 852%

School 52% · District 52%

▲ 21 pts above state median

This schoolChickamauga City, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income52%Higher-income54%2 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income29%Higher-income52%23 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income40%Higher-income58%18 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income40%Higher-income55%15 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income56%Higher-income67%11 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income57%Higher-income77%20 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income50%Higher-income58%8 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income54%Higher-income68%14 pp gap