Best Middle Schools in Sullivan, IN

Sullivan, Indiana has one middle school, Sullivan Middle School, which serves grades 6–8 with 353 students as part of Southwest School Corporation. For 2025–2026, the school ranks 255 of 486 Indiana middle schools (48th percentile) with 2 stars, while the district ranks 227 of 374 (39th percentile) with 2 stars. This is a downward shift: the school was 132 of 491 (73rd percentile, 4 stars) in 2023–2024 and 207 of 480 (57th percentile, 3 stars) in 2024–2025. Chronic absenteeism is 16.4%, above the district’s 12.5% but slightly below the state’s 16.7%. About 50.99% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, per-student spending is $11,080, and the student-teacher ratio is 16.7.

Academically, the standout is Biology End-of-Course: 88% proficient in 2025–2026 versus 55.08% in the district, after 75.86% in 2024–2025 versus 58.41% district and 45.6% state; this may reflect a small group of test-takers. Core results are mixed. In 2025–2026, 8th grade ELA is 43.48% (state 44%, district 42.67%), 6th grade math is 39.42% (state 40.2%, district 37.59%), and 6th grade science is 38.46% (state 41.2%, district 37.88%). The weakest area is 7th grade: both ELA and math are 24.79%. That is below the district in ELA (26.81%) and above it in math (23.91%), but well below the state in both (41.7% ELA, 35.9% math).

All-grade proficiency declined from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026: ELA fell 34.68% to 33.63%, math fell 35.55% to 30.36%, and science fell 45.97% to 38.46%, while Biology rose 75.86% to 88%. Overall, Sullivan Middle School is a middle-of-the-pack school with an exceptional Biology result and relative strengths in 8th grade ELA and 6th grade math, but clear challenges in 7th grade, declining core scores, and a falling rank. With no other middle school in the city, parents should compare it to district and state figures when weighing fit.