The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Math. The lowest is 33% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Decatur County Middle School
Decatur County Middle School is a regular public school serving grades five through eight in Parsons, a small rural town in Decatur County, Tennessee. It is the only middle school in the county’s school district. The school enrolls a student body of moderate size for a middle school, with roughly equal numbers across the four grade levels.
On state assessments administered through Tennessee’s TNReady program, the school’s results present a mixed picture. In mathematics, about half of students scored at the proficient or advanced level, the strongest showing among the tested subjects. Science and social studies followed, each with roughly half of students meeting proficiency standards. English language arts was the weakest area, with around one-third of students reaching proficiency. Participation rates were complete, meaning nearly every student took the tests. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to see whether these results represent improvement or decline from prior years. Without a comparison to other schools in the county—the neighbor comparison was not calculable because Decatur County has only one district—families will need to evaluate these results against state benchmarks or their own expectations.
The student population is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, Black, and multiracial students. The school did not report the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, nor did it report counts of students with disabilities or English learners. A parent or resident may want to ask the school directly about these figures, as they can indicate the level of economic and instructional support present in the building.
The school is located in Parsons, a town that has experienced population decline over recent decades. The area is rural, with limited walkability and few large employers identified. Housing costs in the area are well below both the state and national medians, making it a relatively affordable place to live. The town’s commercial corridor runs along the intersection of two US highways, and the municipal government is centered downtown. The district operates countywide, and Decatur County Middle School is the only middle school serving the county’s fifth through eighth graders.
The data provided a limited picture of the school environment itself. No information was available on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course offerings such as advanced or elective classes. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not reported. These gaps mean that families cannot easily judge the day-to-day climate or breadth of programming from this profile alone. The school’s website or a direct visit would be necessary to learn more about extracurriculars, teacher experience, and support services.
For a family considering Decatur County Middle School, the academic data suggests that math and science instruction are areas of relative strength, while reading and writing proficiency trails. The school serves a fairly homogeneous student body in a quiet, slowly shrinking rural community. The lack of economic and special population data is a significant unknown, and the absence of any trend information limits a family’s ability to see whether the school is improving. Given the small size of the district and the school’s position as the sole middle school option, it is likely the default for county families with children in these grades. Parents who value a small-town setting and affordable housing may find it a comfortable fit, but they will want to verify with the school what support is available for students who are struggling, especially in English language arts.
See more original research from School Decision →