Northeast Middle School, Tifton GA

Original Research by School Decision on Northeast Middle School

Northeast Middle School serves a student body that is economically disadvantaged and racially diverse. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment breaks fairly evenly across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, with the student body split roughly among Black, white, and Hispanic students, and a small Asian population.

Academic performance across the school is below what most Georgia schools report. In math, proficiency in sixth grade is low, rising modestly in seventh grade, and reaching its highest point in eighth grade but still remaining below the state midpoint. English language arts proficiency is similarly low across all three grades, with eighth grade showing the steepest performance. Science, tested only in eighth grade, is above ELA and math but still modest. Social studies performance in eighth grade is the lowest of all tested subjects. The data provided do not include trend information across multiple years, so it is not possible to assess whether performance is moving upward, flat, or declining.

No information was available about staffing, discipline, attendance, chronic absenteeism, course offerings beyond the core tested subjects, special-education enrollment or English-learner enrollment, or the number of school-based counselors and support staff. These details matter for understanding what academic and personal support infrastructure exists to help students who are not yet proficient.

The school is located in Tifton, a small South Georgia city that functions as a regional hub, with healthcare, agriculture, education, and distribution as its economic anchors. Tifton's downtown has been revitalized over recent years and is recognized for walkability and cultural programming. The city is pursuing modest growth and attainable housing development. Median home values in the area are below the state benchmark, and the mortgage climate remains elevated. Tift County Schools itself is undergoing significant changes: a new high school campus is under construction and expected to open in late 2027 with expanded career and technical pathways; the district reduced its property tax rate in 2025, a move that affects household expenses; and beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, all students will receive meals at no charge. The school day was also lengthened starting in the 2025-2026 year, shifting daily schedules for families across the district.

For families considering Northeast Middle School, the main question is not whether this is an elite school. It is not. The question is whether the support structures present at the school, combined with family engagement and resources, can help students in this economically stressed community reach proficiency and prepare for high school. A parent may want to look into the school's tutoring, intervention programs, special-education services, counseling capacity, and track record of high school placement and performance for its graduates. The school is part of a district in transition, with some positive structural changes underway; visiting the school and speaking directly with staff about how they address the academic gaps shown in these numbers would be important steps.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

Not publicly reportedCohort of 2 students · Class of 2021

The federal source does not publish a graduation rate for cohorts this small. The cohort size is shown for context.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

467 schools plotted. 22 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 624%

School 24% · District 31% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median

Grade 728%

School 28% · District 31% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median

Grade 844%

School 44% · District 50% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 630%

School 30% · District 32% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median

Grade 733%

School 33% · District 32%

▼ 3 pts below state median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 32% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median

Science

Grade 834%

School 34% · District 37% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 8 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 826%

School 26% · District 36% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median

This schoolTift 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.