The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 50% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Farristown Middle School
Farristown Middle School serves grades six through eight in Berea, Kentucky, as part of the Madison County school district. Berea itself has a distinct character: it is a small but growing city known for its arts and crafts scene, the presence of Berea College, and a mix of manufacturing and tourism. The school's location on Farristown Industrial Road places it near the city's commercial and manufacturing corridor, not far from Interstate 75. This matters for families considering the school because a separate district, Berea Independent Schools, also serves parts of the city. Farristown is not part of that district; it belongs to the county system, which covers a wider area including rural and suburban parts of Madison County. The school is a regular public middle school with a sizable enrollment for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with small representations of Hispanic, multiracial, and Black students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that suggests meaningful economic diversity among families.
Academically, Farristown Middle School posts results that stand out relative to other districts in Madison County. The school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among the county's districts, a strong signal that its academic performance is notably above the local average. On the Kentucky Summative Assessment, English language arts proficiency is consistent across all three grades, with about two-thirds of students meeting the proficient or above benchmark in each grade level. Math proficiency shows an upward trend by grade: sixth grade lags behind the other grades, while seventh and eighth grade performance is stronger, suggesting that students either catch up as they move through the school or that the math curriculum builds effectively. Science proficiency in seventh grade is lower, with about half of students reaching the proficient level, a soft spot that a parent may want to investigate further with the school. Social studies in eighth grade is on stronger ground, with about two-thirds proficient.
There is no multi-year trend data available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent an improvement or decline over time. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were not reported, and no information on special education or English learner populations was provided in the data. The district brief turned up little of lasting impact from recent searches, suggesting no major upheaval in policy or leadership that a parent would need to track.
The housing market around the school offers a mix of costs. Home values in the area are above the typical Kentucky home but remain below the national median, which may be a practical fit for families moving into the region. Rents appear moderate relative to income. Berea has been one of the faster-growing cities in Kentucky, with a major manufacturing expansion announced in recent years, so the community is in a period of modest growth rather than stagnation.
For a family considering Farristown Middle School, the academic picture is favorable. The school delivers solid proficiency in English language arts across all grades, maintains a math trajectory that improves by eighth grade, and outperforms the broader county average. The student body is not highly diverse racially, which may be a consideration depending on family preference. The share of students from low-income households is substantial, so the school likely has experience supporting a range of needs. The lack of data on programs, course access, and student support services means a parent would want to visit or contact the school directly to understand what electives, advanced coursework, and interventions are available. The school is a straightforward, grade-level public middle school in a growing small city, and its test results give a confident starting point.
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