George Washington Middle School, Jamestown NY

Original Research by School Decision on George Washington Middle School

George Washington Middle School serves grades five through eight in Jamestown, a postindustrial city in southwestern New York that has pivoted from its manufacturing past toward downtown revitalization and cultural tourism. The school enrolls a student body that is substantially economically disadvantaged; the majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population reflects the city's demographics: about a third identify as Hispanic, roughly as many as white, with smaller shares identifying as Black or as multiracial. Specific data on English learners and students with disabilities was not available.

The school's academic performance is below the county median across all tested subjects. In mathematics, proficiency rates range from around one-tenth of fifth graders to about one-quarter of seventh graders, with eighth grade sliding back down to under one-fifth. English language arts shows a similar pattern: fifth and sixth graders cluster around one-fifth proficient, seventh grade reaches roughly one-third, and eighth grade settles near one-quarter. Science proficiency is notably low, with about one-seventh of fifth graders and one-sixth of eighth graders demonstrating proficiency; participation in eighth-grade science testing is notably lower than in other grades and subjects. A parent may want to look into further with the school whether eighth-grade science is required or optional, and what factors shape participation.

The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of Chautauqua County's districts. For context, seventh grade is performing somewhat better than the others, suggesting the school may have particular strength or focus at that level. State assessment data does not speak to trends over time, as comparability with prior years cannot be verified.

Jamestown lies in a community shaped by recent civic investment. Downtown has an active commercial corridor, an intact historic district, and riverfront park spaces created within the last several years. The James Prendergast Library, CARTS transit hub, and Jamestown High School sit within the downtown grid, anchoring pedestrian life. Manufacturing and health services remain significant employers; Cummins, Truck-Lite, Bush Industries, and WCA Hospital are among the largest. Housing in the area is modestly valued; ownership is affordable but the majority of residents rent, a pattern driven by the city's dense urban fabric and its postindustrial character.

The Jamestown City School District is actively reshaping curriculum and operations. In 2023 it adopted a new Science of Reading-aligned K-8 literacy program focused on phonemic awareness and phonics in the early grades. Beginning in September 2025, students across all district schools will not be permitted to use personal devices during the school day, a bell-to-bell restriction that follows New York's statewide directive. The district recently passed a substantial capital improvement project, approved by voters in December 2023, that will upgrade every school building through 2027; this project carries a local tax impact, meaning families should expect both facility improvements and a property-tax effect over several years. Property-tax increases have been modest in recent budgets; the 2025-26 operating budget included only a small levy increase and won overwhelming voter approval. George Washington Middle School is directly involved in this capital work, with construction phases expected to extend into 2027.

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Academic performance

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

New York Regents Exams

2 courses reported · 2024-25

End-of-course exams required for a New York Regents diploma. Each row shows the cohort size and the share of students scoring at the proficient level or higher.

Course	Students tested	% proficient
Science	19	89.0%
Math	14	100.0%

Math

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 19% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 40 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 29% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 727%

School 27% · District 36% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 818%

School 18% · District 31% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 520%

School 20% · District 27% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 26% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 731%

School 31% · District 32% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 825%

School 25% · District 30% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Science

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 21% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 816%

School 16% · District 33% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 566%

School 66% · district not reported

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 862%

School 62% · district not reported

▼ 17 pts below state median

This schoolJAMESTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 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 5Lower-income17%Higher-income39%21 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income15%Higher-income83%68 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income21%Higher-income70%49 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income22%Higher-income39%16 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income8%Higher-income31%22 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income16%Higher-income67%51 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income19%Higher-income60%41 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income17%Higher-income38%21 pp gap