Middle Schools in Simpson County

Simpson County has one listed middle school, Franklin-Simpson Middle School, serving grades 6–8 and enrolling 662 students. The strongest overall finding is that the school moved from slightly below the state average to above it across the ten matched grade-and-subject results: in 2024–2025, its average was 42%, compared with 43% statewide; in 2025–2026, it averaged 48%, versus 42% statewide. That is a 7-point improvement in its average position relative to the state.

There is no meaningful top-to-bottom comparison among schools, since Franklin-Simpson Middle School is the only one listed. It was above the state in 9 of 10 results for 2025–2026. Its strongest state comparison was 7th-grade math, with 50% proficient versus 39% statewide, an 11-point advantage; 6th-grade reading was its highest result overall, at 64% versus 54% statewide. Its weakest comparison was 8th-grade math, at 38% versus 39% statewide. Reading was strong across grades, averaging 55% against 48% statewide, while math averaged 44% against 40%—a positive average that masks the gap between 7th-grade and 8th-grade math.

Results improved in most grade-subject areas, especially 7th-grade reading, up 13 points, and 7th-grade science and 8th-grade writing, each up 10 points from 2024–2025. The exceptions include 6th-grade math, down 3 points, and 8th-grade reading, unchanged. The school’s average rose 6 points while the state average fell 1 point, contributing to the 7-point shift in its relative position. As context, the student-teacher ratio was 18.3 in 2024–2025, and 64% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that school year. In 2025–2026, chronic absenteeism was 19%, compared with 24% statewide; the dropout rate was 0%, versus 1% statewide. Because only one middle school is listed, these figures cannot support a comparison with peer schools.