The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Science. The lowest is 60% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Clinton-massie Middle School
Clinton-Massie Middle School serves grades six through eight in Clarksville, a very small rural village in west-central Clinton County. The school sits on the Clinton-Massie Local School District's 74-acre campus outside the village center, in a low-density setting where shopping beyond one local market means driving to Wilmington or Lebanon. Housing in the area is stable and family-oriented, with a mix of mini-farms and larger homes; median home values are moderately above the national benchmark, and rent runs somewhat lower than mortgage costs, making it an accessible community for working families.
The school's academic profile is mixed. In English language arts, proficiency sits in the upper range for the county. Science performance is notably strong, well above the county median. Math proficiency, however, is lower than the other two subjects and sits slightly below the median for county districts. Overall, the school's combined proficiency index places it above the midpoint among Clinton County districts, indicating solid but uneven academic footing. Participation rates in state testing are very high across all subjects, and nearly all students are assessed, so these results reflect genuine school performance rather than testing barriers.
The student body is demographically homogeneous, overwhelming white, with a small number of students from other backgrounds. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a working-class and mixed-income enrollment. The school does not report counts for students with individual education plans or English learners, so the scope of special-needs or multilingual support is not clear from available data.
The district faces significant budget headwinds. After levy defeats in November 2024 and March 2024, voters approved a new earned income tax measure in May 2025, but revenue will not arrive until April 2026. The district has already cut roughly a third of its planned reductions for 2025-26 through staff layoffs and fee increases, and further cuts are planned before income tax money flows. Even with the levy passing, families should expect course offerings, specials, and electives to remain curtailed through the current school year. The district plans to use new revenue to restore academic programs and address deferred facility maintenance—roof repair, tennis courts, track, and lighting—but recovery will be gradual.
Parents considering this school should understand that it is a rural, small-town middle school serving a tight-knit community where staff know students well. The academic baseline is respectable in English and science but notably weaker in math, and the recent budget cuts have trimmed the range of electives and specials. A parent may want to look into the current status of course breadth with the school directly, since the district is in transition. Housing is affordable and stable, and the village itself is quiet and car-dependent. If a family values rural setting, strong community ties, and reasonable housing costs, this school fits that pattern. If breadth of course offerings or high math proficiency are priorities, the current moment calls for direct conversation with school leadership about what has been preserved and what is planned for recovery.
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