Summary:
Zip code 36266 is home to just one middle school, Central Junior High School of Clay County, a small rural school serving grades 7 and 8 with 282 students in the Clay County district.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that this school has a clear academic split. The standout subject is science: 8th graders posted a 58.87% proficiency rate in 2025-2026, which is nearly 5 points above the state average. However, math is a major concern—only 17.39% of 7th graders and 10.42% of 8th graders were proficient, with the 8th grade score sitting almost 16 points below the state average. English Language Arts also lags, especially in 8th grade, where proficiency is 40.85% versus the state's 58.53%. The school has earned a 2-star rating for three straight years, placing it in the 37th-39th percentile statewide, even though its district is rated 3 stars—meaning other schools in Clay County are pulling the district average up.
On the positive side, chronic absenteeism is a bright spot at 10.6%, better than both the district (11.4%) and state (12.0%). The student-teacher ratio is 17.2:1, and about 59% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high-poverty population. One interesting trend is the volatility in science scores—8th grade proficiency jumped from 40.77% to 58.87% in just one year, which could reflect a curriculum change or a particularly strong cohort. Meanwhile, math scores have remained flat, suggesting current interventions aren't working. If you're considering this school, know that your child will likely get strong science instruction but may need extra support in math and reading, especially by 8th grade.
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