Union County Middle School, Blairsville GA

Original Research by School Decision on Union County Middle School

Union County Middle School serves about two-thirds of the students in sixth through eighth grade who live in the rural mountain county surrounding Blairsville, Georgia. The school is one of five schools operated by the Union County district as a consolidated county system rather than a set of neighborhood schools embedded in the town center itself.

The school's academic results show mixed performance. Math proficiency sits slightly above half across the three grades, with sixth and eighth grade performing similarly while seventh grade falls a few points lower. English language arts proficiency is lower, hovering in the mid-forties across the grade band. Science testing, which occurs only in eighth grade, shows the weakest results of all subjects, with about a third of students meeting proficiency. Social studies proficiency on the eighth-grade test is similarly below half. Because only one year of state assessment data is available, trend comparability across time cannot be assessed. A parent reviewing these numbers may want to discuss with the school what interventions are in place for students not yet proficient, particularly in science and ELA.

The student population is predominantly white, with smaller populations of Hispanic students and students of two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting broader economic patterns in the county. Data on students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners was not available.

Blairsville itself is a small mountain town and county seat with a working character centered around a downtown square with locally owned shops and restaurants around a historic courthouse. The broader county is rural and lake-oriented, with tourism, retirees, and small businesses anchoring the economy. Growth is measured and constrained by geography; leadership has articulated a goal of attracting families while preserving community character. Civic anchors include Vogel State Park and Lake Nottely, and the regional health system is anchored by Union General Hospital. Public transit is limited; residents rely on personal vehicles for most travel.

At the district level, voters approved a continued education sales tax in 2022, funding capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis without property tax increases. The district opened a new College and Career Academy at the high school in 2022, expanding carpentry, automotive, machining, construction, and engineering pathways. These program expansions are set in place for students moving through middle school to access in high school.

Housing values in the Blairsville ZIP code sit modestly above the state median, and mortgage affordability is reasonable compared to national benchmarks. The local economy includes United Community Bank, Union County Schools, Union County Government, and employers like Walmart, Ingles Markets, and healthcare providers.

Housing comparisons are not available for this school in its county context. The school itself is accessed by all middle-grade students in the county system rather than by neighborhood assignment.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 653%

School 53% · District 52% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 22 pts above state median

Grade 749%

School 49% · District 48% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median

Grade 853%

School 53% · District 53%

▲ 11 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 646%

School 46% · District 46%

▲ 11 pts above state median

Grade 744%

School 44% · District 42% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median

Grade 845%

School 45% · District 45%

▲ 10 pts above state median

Science

Grade 832%

School 32% · District 32%

▲ 6 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 837%

School 37% · District 36%

▲ 6 pts above state median

This schoolUnion 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-income34%Higher-income59%26 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income30%Higher-income54%24 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income40%Higher-income62%22 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income35%Higher-income58%24 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income38%Higher-income66%28 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income25%Higher-income61%37 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income36%Higher-income64%28 pp gap

Grades 3-8Lower-income33%Higher-income64%30 pp gap