The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Calloway County Middle School
Calloway County Middle School serves students in sixth through eighth grade from across the county, a district that covers the area around Murray as well as the broader rural parts of Calloway County. The school sits on College Farm Road in Murray, a city that functions as a college town anchored by Murray State University. The university is the dominant local employer, and the downtown courthouse square and Main Street corridor connect the campus to the commercial district. Murray has experienced steady population growth in recent years, and housing values in the area are moderate relative to state and national benchmarks. A substantial share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic diversity of the community.
The student population is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students of two or more races, Black students, and Asian students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the materials reviewed, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the size and support structure for those groups.
Academically, the school participates in Kentucky’s statewide summative assessments. Results show a mixed picture across grade levels and subjects. In mathematics, performance varies: a little over half of sixth graders met proficiency standards, while a higher share of seventh graders did so. Eighth grade math proficiency was lower, at just under half. In English language arts, the pattern is similar: seventh graders performed strongest, with a solid majority meeting standards, while sixth and eighth graders had lower but still substantial proficiency rates. Science is assessed in seventh grade, and less than half of students met proficiency. Social studies, assessed in eighth grade, saw about half of students meeting standards.
Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the lower position when compared directly to the other school district within Calloway County. That comparison is a narrow one: the county contains only two school districts, Calloway County Schools and Murray Independent Schools. The data shows that Calloway County Middle School’s composite proficiency is below that of its counterpart district. A parent may want to ask the school about specific supports in place for the areas where proficiency is lower, particularly eighth grade math and seventh grade science.
The school is a regular public middle school, not a charter or magnet. No data on course offerings, advanced coursework, career pathways, or elective programs was provided, so this narrative cannot speak to the breadth of the academic program beyond the core tested subjects. Similarly, discipline data, chronic absenteeism rates, and staffing ratios were not available. Families interested in those aspects should request them directly from the school or district.
The school is part of Calloway County Schools, the larger of the two districts serving the area. The district brief did not identify any recent or pending changes that would affect families, though the search for that information was limited. The school’s location on the outskirts of Murray places it within a short drive of the university and downtown, and the surrounding area offers parks, lake access, and regional medical facilities as community anchors.
For a family weighing this school against others in the region, the academic profile suggests a school where a majority of students meet state standards in most subjects and grades, but where there are clear areas of relative weakness that may benefit from attention. The school serves a sizable middle school population, and the community context is one of a growing college town with a stable housing market. Without more detailed program and environment data, the picture is incomplete, but the available academic results give a starting point for conversation with the school about how it addresses gaps in student performance.
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