A study was conducted to provide a current data profile on Georgia's middle grade schools that could serve as a baseline for periodic reassessments of the state's middle grade schools. A 19-item questionnaire was mailed to Georgia's 284 public middle grade schools in October 1990, requesting information on administration organization; grade configuration; housing arrangements; articulation; the establishment of the middle-level school; decision-making; staff development; core and elective curricula; instructional organization, groupings, and schedules; independent study; pupil progress reports; student counseling; school evaluation; faculty preparation; plans for evaluation; and major problems. Study findings, based on responses from 129 (45%) of the schools included the following: (1) 88 of the responding schools offered grades 6 through 8, and 19 offer grades 7 and 8; (2) the most prominent housing arrangement is the single physical plant that contains a combination of grades 5 or 6 through 8 or 9; (3) with approximately 1,414 public school buildings housing middle graders, most of Georgia's early adolescents are housed in either K-6, K-8, or 7-12 schools; and (4) the principal reason for establishing middle schools was to better bridge the elementary and high school educational experience. Based on study findings, 10 recommendations were put forth for improving middle school education in Georgia. A 14-item bibliography and a list of 10 essential elements of a "true" middle school are provided. (AC)