The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Science. The lowest is 29% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Waycross Middle School
Waycross Middle School is a middle school serving sixth through eighth grade in the Ware County School District. The school serves a student body that is economically stressed and racially mixed. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. By race and ethnicity, the enrollment is roughly split between Black and white students, with smaller shares of students identifying as Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial.
State test results across the school show low proficiency. In mathematics, proficiency rises with grade: sixth-graders show lower attainment, seventh-graders slightly higher, and eighth-graders the strongest performance of the three grades, though all remain below typical state benchmarks. English language arts proficiency is fairly flat across grades six, seven, and eight. Eighth-grade science shows stronger performance than ELA and math at that level. Eighth-grade social studies proficiency is the lowest across tested subjects. The school's results suggest students face material academic barriers, and a parent may want to look into how the district and school support students working below grade level in core subjects.
The school itself is undergoing substantial physical transformation. Voters renewed the Education Special Local Option Sales Tax in May 2022, and that funding is now building a new Waycross Middle School on the same campus. A groundbreaking took place in October 2024, with the new facility expected to open at the start of the 2026 school year. This new building will replace the current one and represents a major capital investment by the district without raising property tax millage rates. Because the district funds this through a sales tax rather than property tax, it is a structural choice that affects how families' tax burden is distributed.
At the district level, Ware County Schools implemented a bell-to-bell electronic device ban starting in 2025-2026, requiring all students in grades K through 12 to store personal devices during the school day. This includes cell phones, earbuds, smartwatches, and similar technology. The district moved ahead of a state law requiring such restrictions for K through 8 beginning in 2026. The Ware County Board of Education also adopted a 2024 property tax increase above the state rollback rate, directly affecting what families pay annually on school property taxes in the county.
Waycross itself is a small Southeast Georgia city centered historically around a railroad junction. The downtown district is walkable and nationally recognized as a Main Street City, with restored historic buildings and civic anchors including City Hall in a former YMCA, a public library, and a performance venue. Outside downtown, the city is car-oriented. Major employers span healthcare, rail logistics, manufacturing, education, and state government, with the arrival of a large housing-manufacturer facility expected to bring significant employment. The city faces a housing shortage relative to its population, and new residential projects are under development to address demand. The median home value in the area is well below both state and national benchmarks, making housing more affordable than many parts of Georgia, though affordability is being tested by the economic growth and incoming jobs.
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