GA's Best Middle Schools Ranked In New Analysis

Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers in Decatur is the best public middle school in Georgia, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News researchers based the 2026 ranking of the nation’s best public middle schools on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. The researchers ranked more than 23,000 middle schools in its 2026 report, which was released Tuesday.

The top 25 public middle schools in Georgia are:

1. Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers in Decatur
2. Elite Scholars Academy School, Jonesboro
3. Dickerson Middle School, Marietta
4. Riverwatch Middle School, Suwanee
5. South Forsyth Middle School, Cumming
6. River Trail Middle School, Duluth
7. Dodgen Middle School, Marietta
8. Webb Bridge Middle School, Alpharetta
9. North Gwinnett Middle School, Sugar Hill
10. Piney Grove Middle School, Cumming
11. Rising Starr Middle School, Fayetteville
12. Davidson Magnet School, Augusta
13. Autrey Mill Middle School, Alpharetta
14. Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet, Albany
15. Hightower Trail Middle School, Marietta
16. Bremen Middle School, Bremen
17. International Charter School of Atlanta, Roswell
18. Crews Middle School, Lawrenceville
19. Northwestern Middle School, Alpharetta
20. Mabry Middle School, Marietta
21. Taylor Road Middle School, Alpharetta
22. Osborne Middle School, Hoschton
23. J.C. Booth Middle School, Peachtree City
24. Buford Middle School, Buford
25. Lakeside Middle School, Cumming

The ranking methodology considered student proficiency in math and reading/language arts state assessments, adjusting for student backgrounds and core subject achievements. In cases of ties, student-teacher ratios were used as a deciding factor.

The rankings are intended as an evaluation tool to give parents a snapshot of how well schools provide a high-quality education and prepare students for a successful future, LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in a news release.

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