The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Social studies. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Clifton Ridge Middle School
Clifton Ridge Middle School serves students in grades six through eight in Macon, Georgia, within the Jones County School System. The school enrolls a moderate-sized student body drawn from both Macon and surrounding areas, with a student composition that is majority white, with a substantial population of Black students and a smaller Hispanic population. A significant share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, pointing to economic need across much of the enrollment.
The school's academic performance shows consistent low proficiency across all tested subjects. In math, proficiency across grades six, seven, and eight runs in the low ranges, with sixth grade showing the lowest performance and upper grades climbing slightly. In English language arts, seventh grade performs relatively stronger than sixth and eighth grades, though proficiency across the grade band remains modest. Science proficiency in eighth grade sits in the low-to-mid range, as does eighth-grade social studies. The pattern across subjects and grades reflects that a majority of students are not meeting the state's grade-level standards. A parent may want to look into what academic support structures the school has in place and how the school is working to improve these outcomes.
The school sits within Jones County's two-district system. The district has implemented centralized enrollment as of March 2026, a shift that changes how families register their children; families new to the area will register all K-12 students at the district's Central Office rather than at individual schools. The district also operates SPARK Academy, a joint advanced academy for high-achieving students shared between Clifton Ridge and Gray Station Middle School, which serves as an additional pathway for students identified for accelerated work. These initiatives suggest the district is attending to both the logistics of enrollment and the range of student needs, though overall proficiency trends indicate that school-wide academic support remains an area of focus.
Macon itself is a mid-sized Central Georgia city anchored by healthcare, higher education, and government employment, with Robins Air Force Base in nearby Warner Robins serving as a major regional employer. The downtown area has been undergoing significant revitalization, with new residential lofts, restaurants, and cultural venues driving a rebuilding of the urban core. Historic neighborhoods such as Cherokee Heights, Ingleside, and Shirley Hills offer established residential character, while newer suburban development extends outward. The city's walkability varies: downtown and the Cherry Street corridor are highly walkable, but most surrounding residential areas are car-dependent. Housing values in the zip code are below state and national benchmarks, and affordability metrics suggest that mortgage costs relative to local income remain moderate, making this an accessible housing market for many families.
Clifton Ridge Middle School is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. It functions as the standard neighborhood middle school serving its attendance zone. For families evaluating the school, the key questions center on academic support and whether the school's current trajectory aligns with their expectations for their child's preparation for high school. The low proficiency numbers are clear; what matters next is understanding the school's approach to instruction and remediation, and whether the SPARK Academy option represents a genuine pathway to rigor for qualifying students.
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