The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Crisp County Middle School
Crisp County Middle School serves grades six through eight in Cordele, a small South Georgia agricultural and transportation hub that is undergoing significant growth pressures. The school sits in a district with a single middle school, so it is the only sixth- through eighth-grade option for students in the county.
The school's state assessment results show a pattern of low proficiency across tested subjects. In math, overall proficiency sits at under a fifth of students, with sixth grade at its lowest and eighth grade slightly higher. English/language arts proficiency averages around one fifth overall, with eighth grade outperforming the other grades. Science proficiency in eighth grade exceeds performance in other subjects, while social studies in eighth grade is the weakest area. These results indicate that the vast majority of students are not yet meeting state proficiency benchmarks, a substantial challenge that a prospective parent or resident may want to discuss directly with school leadership about available interventions and support structures.
The enrollment is moderate in size for a consolidated district middle school, and serves a student body that is economically vulnerable: the entire enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. Racially and ethnically, the school's population is majority Black, with a substantial white minority and smaller Hispanic and multiracial cohorts. Data on special education enrollment and English learner enrollment were not available in the reported figures.
Cordele itself is a small county seat and watermelon-growing center with a walkable historic downtown anchored by locally owned shops, restaurants, and civic institutions. The broader community is car-dependent beyond the downtown core, though the city has a working rail diamond serving freight and a seasonal excursion train. The locale is experiencing economic momentum: a major technology and data-center project is proposed for the east side of the city near Interstate 75, with construction starting in 2029 and potentially creating substantial employment. Workforce housing development and retail expansion are already underway at that exit. Housing values in the zip code are well below state and national benchmarks, making the area affordable for families.
The Crisp County Schools system has demonstrated recent institutional engagement: voters passed a referendum in 2021 extending a sales tax for school capital projects and authorizing debt financing for facilities, and in 2022 they restructured the Board of Education. These actions suggest ongoing investment in the school infrastructure and governance. Multi-year trend data for state assessments were not available, limiting visibility into whether performance is stable or shifting.
A family considering this school should weigh the current proficiency levels and their own child's academic needs alongside the affordable housing market and the community's growth trajectory. The school's role as the single middle grades option for the county means it serves the full breadth of the student population, with no selective enrollment alternative within the district.
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