Lindley Middle School, Mableton GA

Original Research by School Decision on Lindley Middle School

Lindley Middle School serves a distinctive student body shaped by economic need and diversity in a suburb undergoing rapid change. The school enrolls a substantial share of students, with a composition that is roughly evenly divided between Black and Hispanic students, and a very high share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The Mableton area where the school sits is newly incorporated, car-dependent, and experiencing accelerating development; residents have noted rising housing costs and gentrification concerns alongside new commercial and residential projects.

Academically, Lindley's recent state testing results show proficiency rates that are well below the midpoint for Cobb County schools. In math, sixth and seventh graders show low attainment, though eighth-grade performance improves notably. English language arts results are similarly low in the sixth and seventh grades, with eighth grade slightly better. Science proficiency, measured only in eighth grade, is in the low range. Social studies, also tested in eighth grade, is the strongest subject area, though still modest. Overall, the school's mean proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Cobb County.

The pattern across grades is noteworthy: younger students show particularly low proficiency, while eighth graders perform better, suggesting either a shift in student cohort or gains that happen during the school's middle years. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand whether the improvement reflects program design, student support systems, or demographic factors.

The school's housing context reflects broader Mableton trends. Home values in the 30126 zip code are moderate for the metro Atlanta region, with rents substantially below typical housing payments. The area has historically been affordable, though publicly reported development plans and recent city incorporation have begun to attract new investment, and residents report rising prices alongside new mixed-use projects planned for Mableton Parkway and the I-20 corridor.

Mableton itself is car-dependent with limited walkability; sidewalks are incomplete along major corridors, though the city is pursuing SPLOST-funded improvements and a regional vision for a walkable civic center. The Silver Comet Trail provides a recreational paved pathway. The South Cobb Regional Library serves the area as a civic anchor, and CobbLinc transit connects residents to Cumberland, MARTA rail stations, and broader metro employment. Six Flags Over Georgia is the most visible local employer.

Lindley sits within this context as part of Cobb County Schools, a district serving a large suburban county. The school does not appear to have specialized programs, magnet status, or charter authorization; it functions as a neighborhood middle school in a traditional public system.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 622%

School 22% · District 45% · ▼ 23 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 720%

School 20% · District 50% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 55% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 628%

School 28% · District 51% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 722%

School 22% · District 51% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 825%

School 25% · District 48% · ▼ 23 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Science

Grade 823%

School 23% · District 34% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 831%

School 31% · District 49% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

This schoolCobb County, 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-income25%Higher-income50%25 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income20%Higher-income53%34 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income41%Higher-income53%12 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income29%Higher-income52%24 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income16%Higher-income8%8 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income23%Higher-income20%3 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income37%Higher-income71%34 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income25%Higher-income36%11 pp gap