The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Social studies. The lowest is 52% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Head Middle
Head Middle is a regular public school serving grades five through eight in the Davidson County school district, located in Nashville. As a middle school, it does not have a graduation rate, and the data provided does not include information on student poverty measures or special education and English learner enrollment. The school sits within a major urban center that is a state capital with a diverse economy anchored by healthcare, music, publishing, automotive, and technology industries. The city is also home to multiple universities and has experienced rapid population growth, creating a dynamic but densely populated environment.
Academically, students at Head Middle took the state’s TNReady assessments and showed a mixed performance picture. Overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades placed the school in the top quartile relative to other districts in Davidson County, meaning it outperformed most of its local peers on this composite measure. In math, a little more than half of students scored at the proficient level or above. English language arts results were similar, with about the same share reaching proficiency. Science performance was somewhat stronger, with close to three in five students meeting the bar. Social studies was the school’s highest area, with roughly two-thirds of students scoring proficient. While these results show a solid academic floor, a parent may want to investigate further with the school about what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting the standard, since nearly half in both math and English are below that threshold.
The student body is moderately sized for a middle school grade band. Racially and ethnically, the school is diverse. A little over half of students are Black, about a third are white, and the remainder are Asian, Hispanic, multiracial, or from other groups. The data does not supply a free-or-reduced-price lunch rate, so it is not possible to assess the share of families experiencing economic disadvantage. No information was available about chronic absenteeism or discipline rates, meaning a parent looking into the school’s climate would need to ask the school directly for that data.
The school’s address places it near downtown Nashville, in the central part of the city. The broader housing market in this area is expensive, with home values and rents well above state and national benchmarks. The typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home runs higher than the typical rent, reinforcing that this market is hard to buy into without substantial income. This economic context points to a neighborhood that is generally not affordable for many working families, though without the school’s own poverty data, it is unclear how that plays out in the student body. The city itself is car dependent across much of its spread-out geography, though the school’s central location may offer somewhat better access to bus routes and regional rail than farther outskirts would.
No program offerings were included in the data, so there is no information on arts, athletics, gifted services, or any specialized academic tracks. Parents should check directly with the school or district website for what electives and enrichment are available. The district-level search did not turn up any recent changes or initiatives, so this narrative cannot address any current strategic priorities or reforms at the system level.
Head Middle serves a family that values a diverse, urban school setting and wants a middle school whose test results are competitive within Davidson County. The core academic picture is one of solid performance in social studies and science, with reading and math at roughly the same moderate level. A parent considering this school should confirm program offerings and ask about the support structure for students in the lower half of the proficiency distribution, as well as inquire about the school’s discipline and attendance climate, since those data were not provided. The surrounding housing market is steep, meaning most families living near the school are likely carrying a high housing cost burden.
See more original research from School Decision →