James E Bazzell Middle School, Scottsville KY

Original Research by School Decision on James E Bazzell Middle School

James E Bazzell Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders in Scottsville, Kentucky, as part of the Allen County school system. This is the only middle school in the district, drawing students from across the county. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.

The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller Hispanic population and even smaller shares of Black and Asian students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need. Because it covers only two grades, the total enrollment is concentrated in just those two grade levels.

On state assessments in the most recent testing year, proficiency rates for James E Bazzell Middle School show a varied picture. In mathematics, the eighth-grade proficiency rate was higher than the seventh-grade rate. In English language arts, both grades posted proficiency rates that were in the low range, with seventh graders scoring somewhat higher than eighth graders. In science, the seventh-grade proficiency rate was lower still. For social studies, tested in grade eight, the proficiency rate was comparable to the eighth-grade ELA result. Across the board, these results suggest that a majority of students are not meeting the state’s proficiency benchmarks, and a parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are performing below grade level.

The school sits in Scottsville, a small county seat with a traditional downtown square and a mix of residential neighborhoods. The town has experienced very slow population growth over the past couple of decades. Housing costs are relatively low compared to national averages, and the cost of living is below the U.S. norm. Median home values have risen in recent years, but remain modest. The local economy has historical ties to the founding of Dollar General, and manufacturing and healthcare are present as employment sectors. The town offers civic amenities including a public library, parks, a weekly newspaper, and local radio stations.

The district brief turned up no recent major changes such as boundary adjustments, leadership turnover, or program overhauls that would be of immediate interest to a family considering the school. The district operates with just one school per grade band, so there are no intra-district choice options for middle school.

For a family considering James E Bazzell Middle School, the setting is a small, slow-growing rural county seat with low housing costs. The school itself has a student body with notable economic need, and state test results indicate that proficiency rates in core subjects are below levels many families would hope for, especially in science and eighth-grade ELA. A parent would be wise to ask about individual student support and enrichment options, and about the school’s approach to moving students toward grade-level proficiency before they enter high school. There is no comparison data available against other districts in Allen County because this is the only district in the county, so the results stand on their own.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 733%

School 33% · District 32% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 10 pts below state median

Grade 844%

School 44% · District 41% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 736%

School 36% · District 34% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median

Grade 831%

School 31% · District 29% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 11 pts below state median

Science

Grade 725%

School 25% · District 24% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median

Social studies

Grade 831%

School 31% · District 30% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median

This schoolAllen 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 7Lower-income31%Higher-income44%13 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income31%Higher-income31%0 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income26%Higher-income44%18 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income39%Higher-income50%11 pp gap