The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin-simpson Middle School
Franklin-Simpson Middle School serves grades six through eight as the sole public middle school in the Simpson County district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and sits in the town of Franklin, Kentucky. Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and because the district is the only one in Simpson County, no comparison against neighboring districts can be drawn.
The Kentucky Summative Assessment results from the 2024-25 school year give a mixed picture. In reading, sixth graders show the strongest performance, with a majority of students meeting the proficient or higher bar. By seventh and eighth grade, however, reading proficiency drops to less than half of students. Math results follow a similar pattern: roughly half of sixth and seventh graders are proficient, while eighth graders fall to about a third. Science, tested only in seventh grade, shows about a quarter of students reaching proficiency, and eighth-grade social studies lands at roughly a third of students proficient. The overall pattern is one where sixth-grade reading is the school’s strongest area, while math and science present clear soft spots, especially in the upper middle grades. A parent considering this school may want to ask what targeted support is available for students who are not yet at grade level in those subjects.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. More than two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing this school in a high-poverty context. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, and no information on discipline, attendance, staffing, or course access could be found in this profile. Those are meaningful gaps for a parent to investigate directly with the school.
Franklin is a small city situated on the I-65 corridor between Nashville and Bowling Green. Its traditional downtown square holds the Simpson County Courthouse, the public library, and a history center, and the town’s commercial activity is concentrated along the highway strip with hotels, gaming and horse racing at Kentucky Downs, distilleries, and restaurants. A major Kroger distribution center recently announced will bring a significant number of new jobs. The housing market reflects a typical small southern city, with home values near the state average and rents at a moderate level. The town is car-dependent, with no public transit identified. The school is integrated into the community rather than isolated, given Franklin’s small footprint.
No recent district-level changes of lasting impact to parents were found in publicly available sources. That may simply mean the district has been stable, but it is worth noting that no information on facility updates, curriculum shifts, or leadership transitions surfaced.
Franklin-Simpson Middle School offers a traditional middle school experience in a community with a tourism-driven economy and growing industrial development. The academic results are uneven: reading in sixth grade is a relative strength, but proficiency declines in later grades, and science and math need attention. The high share of students in poverty suggests the school serves a population with significant economic need, and a parent would want to confirm what interventions and enrichment programs are in place. The absence of key data points on discipline, staffing, and special populations means that a visit or conversation with school staff will be especially important to get a full picture.
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