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Joe Shafer Middle School

Q: Is Joe Shafer Middle School a good school?

Joe Shafer Middle School ranks 368 th of 583 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

368^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 583 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 37% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Joe Shafer Middle School is a public middle school in Gallatin, Tennessee, serving 635 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Sumner County School District, which is ranked 30 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Academically, Joe Shafer Middle School faces some challenges. Its test scores in Mathematics (36.7%), English Language Arts (24.3%), and Science (33.9%) are significantly lower than the Sumner County and Tennessee state averages. The school's performance also varies across different student subgroups, with lower rankings for female students, as well as students who are African American, Hispanic, White, have special needs, or come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, Joe Shafer Middle School has consistently higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the district and state.

When compared to other middle schools in the Sumner County district, Joe Shafer Middle School generally performs worse academically. Schools like Robert E. Ellis Middle, T.W. Hunter Middle, and Station Camp Middle consistently outperform Joe Shafer Middle School in test scores and statewide rankings. The school's statewide ranking has also declined over the years, from 129 out of 574 Tennessee middle schools in 2018-2019 to 368 out of 583 in 2024-2025, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

670

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,359

Per pupil spending ?

54.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

240 Albert Gallatin BLVD
Gallatin, TN 37066

(615) 452-9100

District: Sumner County

Students who attend Joe Shafer Middle School usually attend:

High:

Gallatin Senior High School

Feeder schools for Joe Shafer Middle School:

Elementary:	Benny C. Bills Elementary School
	Vena Stuart Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

53.4%

African American:

21.0%

Hispanic:

19.1%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare Joe Shafer Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 45th percentile in 2014 → 37th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (33% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2014

!English Language Arts scores 15 pts below the Tennessee average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school33%

District avg56%

Tennessee avg43%

368^th of 583

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 18 pts since 2015

From top 45% (2015) to bottom 37% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 12Middle Schools in the Sumner County

30^th of 139Sumner County among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	38.5	368 of 583	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.2	335 of 587	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.3	251 of 594	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	202 of 569	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.9	242 of 576	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.5	129 of 574	77.5%	★★★★☆
2018	62.4	161 of 563	71.4%	★★★★☆
2017	48.6	190 of 362	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	58.1	223 of 492	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.0	269 of 485	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	50.3	294 of 475	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.8	344 of 466	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.9	380 of 462	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	28.8	347 of 435	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	29.9	213 of 312	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.1	195 of 318	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.4	161 of 316	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.5	156 of 299	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.7	177 of 277	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.4	148 of 293	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.2	140 of 284	50.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	30.4	399 of 546	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.4	334 of 554	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.0	248 of 560	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.4	184 of 552	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.2	213 of 538	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.9	98 of 529	81.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	39.1	170 of 286	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.2	198 of 285	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.8	133 of 285	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.2	158 of 275	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.7	156 of 261	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.6	75 of 228	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.0	86 of 219	60.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	26.8	381 of 490	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.6	364 of 510	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.0	270 of 514	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.6	255 of 495	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.7	313 of 483	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.9	81 of 490	83.5%	★★★★☆
2018	65.8	103 of 481	78.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	44.3	299 of 550	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.7	321 of 560	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.6	245 of 557	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.9	220 of 540	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.4	251 of 529	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.9	169 of 523	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	36.0	188 of 332	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.0	216 of 299	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.1	179 of 288	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.6	152 of 260	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.0	53 of 238	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	43.8	106 of 222	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.3	112 of 279	59.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	40.9	279 of 492	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.3	263 of 504	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.8	180 of 503	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.8	125 of 500	75.0%	★★★★☆
2021	59.1	158 of 496	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.7	82 of 484	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	70.8	101 of 481	79.0%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2025)46th percentile+9 vs school

Special Education (2025)43rd percentile+6 vs school

White (2025)43rd percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)41st percentile+4 vs school

African American (2025)32nd percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)27th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)22nd percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies38%-11 vs state

Mathematics37%-6 vs state

Science34%-12 vs state

English Language Arts24%-15 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 18, 2016

When my son started here in the 6th grade, he was in advanced classes--mostly A's some B's. His grades slipped from year to year, with teachers not teaching him. With lower grades, in 8th grade he was put in regular classes and that is when the bullying amplified.

The principal is unfair and inconsistent with discipline--though he proudly claims otherwise! My son was assaulted and no one knew about it. No adults in the halls. Only when he reported it, did they see it on tape. No one was watching the video in real time. When it was shown that my son defended himself (defined as appropriate in the student handbook), the principal punishes my son by sending him to ISS for protecting himself. The assailant was carried off in handcuffs.

In hindsight, I wish I had pulled my child from this hole. Any communication I had with the leaders here fell on deaf ears. They destroyed his spirit, and I really blame the principal--he had a major role in it. Close Quote

Schools Near Joe Shafer Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)				TNReady English Language Arts (2025)				TNReady Science (2025)				TNReady Social Studies (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Joe Shafer Middle School	Public	6-8	240 Albert Gallatin BLVD	Gallatin	37066	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 452-9100	635	46	13.9		369 (58.1%)	129 (20.3%)	105 (16.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	27 (4.3%)	38.5	368^th of 583 public middle schools	36.9%		40.2	335^th of 587 public middle schools	42.9%	33	45.3	22.4	41.2	36.7	35.3	17.3	19.5	24.3	40.5	26.0	34.6	33.9	40.9	34.7	39.3	38.4	$12,359	$292	$11,379
Rucker Stewart Middle	Public	6-8	350 Hancock ST	Gallatin	37066	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 452-1734	643	45	14.2		248 (38.6%)	185 (28.8%)	167 (26.0%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (5.4%)	39.4	355^th of 583 public middle schools	39.1%		38.6	352^nd of 587 public middle schools	40.0%	3	33.5	30.0	29.7	31.0	25.8	29.4	26.8	27.2	24.2	45.3	31.1	32.9	36.3	55.0	39.7	43.0	$13,645	$594	$12,172
Station Camp Middle School	Public	6-8	281 Big Station Camp BLVD	Gallatin	37066	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 206-0116	861	57	15.1		647 (75.1%)	83 (9.6%)	64 (7.4%)	27 (3.1%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.2%)	95.1	21^st of 583 public middle schools	96.4%		94.9	24^th of 587 public middle schools	95.9%	3	74.4	71.6	78.4	74.9	61.6	56.9	54.7	57.8	72.1	82.6	78.6	77.7	65.9	76.9	66.3	69.5	$10,903	$297	$10,118
Liberty Creek Middle School	Public	6-8	200 Wolfpack Way	Gallatin	37066	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(615) 206-3506	601	39	15.2		479 (79.7%)	43 (7.2%)	36 (6.0%)	15 (2.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.2%)	94.4	26^th of 583 public middle schools	95.5%		92.7	30^th of 587 public middle schools	94.9%	4	82.8	82.1	69.9	78.4	64.2	54.8	51.5	56.9	75.3	66.5	64.6	68.9	68.8	82.1	66.5	72.6	$11,314	$241	$10,590
Knox Doss Middle School at Drakes Creek	Public	6-8	1338 Drakes Creek RD	Hendersonville	37075	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 824-8383	587	39	15.0		360 (61.3%)	52 (8.9%)	132 (22.5%)	15 (2.6%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (4.3%)	81.3	77^th of 583 public middle schools	86.8%		83.5	68^th of 587 public middle schools	88.4%	9	65.7	63.2	62.0	63.6	53.7	46.6	37.5	46.0	57.7	58.9	50.8	55.8	57.7	69.0	45.5	57.6	$12,087	$538	$11,028
T. W. Hunter Middle School	Public	6-8	2101 New Hope RD	Hendersonville	37075	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 822-4720	570	37	15.2		416 (73.0%)	77 (13.5%)	37 (6.5%)	13 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	22 (3.9%)	99.1	2^nd of 583 public middle schools	99.7%		99.1	6^th of 587 public middle schools	99.0%	4	85.9	89.6	89.1	88.4	68.3	69.2	72.9	70.3	84.5	82.4	79.2	81.8	85.2	91.2	88.5	88.6	$12,999	$344	$12,133
Robert E Ellis Middle	Public	6-8	100 Indian Lake RD	Hendersonville	37075	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 264-6093	556	42	13.2		459 (82.6%)	40 (7.2%)	40 (7.2%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.6%)	95.3	20^th of 583 public middle schools	96.6%		94.7	25^th of 587 public middle schools	95.7%	5	79.8	76.9	83.9	80.4	71.2	59.6	52.2	60.7	68.5	63.5	67.2	66.5	77.8	80.8	70.0	75.9	$12,951	$241	$12,206
Portland East Middle School	Public	6-8	604 South Broadway	Portland	37148	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 325-4146	406	30	13.7		303 (74.6%)	20 (4.9%)	64 (15.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (4.2%)	60.5	199^th of 583 public middle schools	65.9%		65.4	169^th of 587 public middle schools	71.2%	30	42.4	39.8	50.0	44.0	44.7	38.3	23.0	35.5	50.8	54.1	45.2	50.1	22.7	63.9	47.6	44.8	$14,511	$612	$13,079
Portland West Middle School	Public	6-8	110 Nolan Private DR	Portland	37148	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 325-8066	495	38	13.0		379 (76.6%)	27 (5.5%)	68 (13.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	18 (3.6%)	54.8	234^th of 583 public middle schools	59.9%		66	166^th of 587 public middle schools	71.7%	68	37.9	48.3	53.9	46.3	39.1	35.6	31.8	35.7	37.6	40.1	38.8	38.8	43.7	53.1	35.5	44.0	$13,754	$469	$12,582
V G Hawkins Middle School	Public	6-8	487 A. Walton Ferry RD	Hendersonville	37075	Sumner County	Sumner County	No	No	No	No	(615) 824-3456	433	33	13.3		276 (63.7%)	51 (11.8%)	75 (17.3%)	14 (3.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.0%)	73.6	121^st of 583 public middle schools	79.2%		69.6	136^th of 587 public middle schools	76.8%	15	60.5	51.4	59.2	56.7	45.5	37.1	34.2	38.9	46.4	46.5	58.3	50.1	53.2	55.6	70.0	59.3	$14,110	$241	$13,176

Frequently Asked Questions about Joe Shafer Middle School

What district is Joe Shafer Middle School in?

Sumner County

Is Joe Shafer Middle School a good school?

Joe Shafer Middle School ranks 368^th of 583 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Joe Shafer Middle School?

Students at Joe Shafer Middle School are 53% White, 21% African American, 19% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Joe Shafer Middle School attend?

Students who attend Joe Shafer Middle School usually go on to attend Gallatin Senior High School

How many students attend Joe Shafer Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 670 students attended Joe Shafer Middle School.

Rate Joe Shafer Middle School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.