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South Marshall Middle

Q: Is South Marshall Middle a good school?

South Marshall Middle ranks 242 nd of 326 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

242^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 326 Kentucky Middle Schools

Better than 26% of Kentucky middle schools

Summary

South Marshall Middle serves 432 students in grades 6–8 in Benton, in Marshall County, whose SchoolDigger district rating is 61st of 158 districts, at the 61st percentile with 3 stars. The school’s clearest strength is in a few results, including seventh-grade science and eighth-grade editing and mechanics, but its math and reading results are much weaker. The most important concern is that it had the lowest math and reading scores among the seven nearby schools in every comparable grade.

In 2025–26, math proficiency at South Marshall was 22%–25% across grades 6–8, compared with 39%–42% statewide and 33%–35% in the district; nearby-school averages were 48%–53%. Reading was also below the state, district, and nearby averages in all three grades. Grade 6 reading was the weakest state comparison: 34% proficient, 20 points below the state. The school does have results above the state in grade 7 science (33% versus 28%) and grade 8 editing and mechanics (51% versus 42%). However, both remain below nearby averages: 37% in science and 57% in editing and mechanics. Science is just 1 point below the district.

Results have declined in math and reading since 2022–23: grade 7 and grade 8 math fell 17 and 18 points, and their gaps to the state widened by 19 and 21 points. By contrast, grade 7 science rose 13 points and is now above the state. SchoolDigger ranks South Marshall 242nd of 326 Kentucky middle schools, at the 26th percentile with 1 star, down from the 45th percentile the prior year. Its 2024–25 student-teacher ratio was 15.7; its free/reduced lunch eligible rate that year was 61%, compared with a 57% nearby-school average. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking for Special Education Students is stronger than the overall ranking—51st percentile, compared with 26th. The Female Students ranking fell from the 43rd percentile in 2024–25 to the 14th percentile in 2025–26.

432

Students ?

15.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

60.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

2211 US 641 South
Benton, KY 42025

(270) 527-3828

District: Marshall County

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.4%

Hispanic:

6.5%

Two or more races:

1.4%

See top rated Kentucky middle schools

Compare South Marshall Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 25th percentile in 2019 → 26th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kentucky average (34% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Mathematics scores 17 pts below the Kentucky average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg44%

Kentucky avg42%

242^nd of 326

Kentucky public middle schools ?

Bottom 26%▲ up 1 pts since 2019

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Middle Schools in the Marshall County

61^st of 158Marshall County among Kentucky 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	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	29.4	242 of 326	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.0	177 of 320	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.5	200 of 324	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.4	181 of 327	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.4	185 of 320	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.2	183 of 282	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.2	251 of 335	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	31.5	170 of 226	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	19.3	257 of 299	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.3	169 of 298	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.3	176 of 300	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.9	179 of 295	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.0	158 of 299	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.9	151 of 233	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.4	221 of 299	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	45.9	47 of 62	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	23.1	110 of 134	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	30.2	227 of 313	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.4	164 of 314	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.0	159 of 311	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.9	145 of 309	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.1	168 of 310	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.4	131 of 224	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.7	246 of 303	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	37.2	188 of 299	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.0	142 of 303	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.1	196 of 304	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.0	167 of 307	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.6	204 of 304	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.5	156 of 222	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.3	257 of 303	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	40.2	69 of 142	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.6	60 of 126	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	29.6	231 of 294	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	26.3	243 of 316	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.3	194 of 314	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.2	218 of 316	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.7	204 of 320	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.6	212 of 314	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.7	132 of 213	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.3	220 of 266	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)51st percentile+26 vs school

Male (2026)37th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)27th percentile~ school

Disabled (2019)25th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2019)24th percentile~ school

White (2026)23rd percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)18th percentile-8 vs school

Female (2026)14th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Editing and Mechanics51%+9 vs state

Writing44%-4 vs state

Reading36%-12 vs state

Science33%+5 vs state

Social Studies32%-7 vs state

Mathematics23%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Marshall Middle

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				KSA Mathematics (2026)					KSA Reading (2026)					KSA Science (2026)		KSA Writing (2026)		KSA Social Studies (2026)		KSA Editing and Mechanics (2026)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 4th Grade	KSA Mathematics 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Marshall Middle	Public	6-8	2211 US 641 South	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 527-3828	432	27	15.7	60.9%	395 (91.4%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	29.4	242^nd of 326 public middle schools	25.8%		44	177^th of 320 public middle schools	44.7%	65			25.0	22.0	22.0			34.0	40.0	33.0		33.0		44.0		32.0		51.0
North Marshall Middle School	Public	6-8	3111 U. S. Hwy 95	Calvert City	42029	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 395-7108	487	30	16.4	51.5%	450 (92.4%)	3 (0.6%)	15 (3.1%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.1%)	71.3	69^th of 326 public middle schools	78.8%		74.4	60^th of 320 public middle schools	81.3%	9			43.0	43.0	42.0			68.0	53.0	58.0		35.0		69.0		53.0		59.0
Calloway County Middle School	Public	6-8	2112 College Farm Rd	Murray	42071	Calloway County	Calloway County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 762-7355	607	38	16.1	57.2%	512 (84.3%)	11 (1.8%)	50 (8.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.1%)	73.6	62^nd of 326 public middle schools	81.0%		74.9	59^th of 320 public middle schools	81.6%	3			53.0	50.0	46.0			63.0	49.0	53.0		38.0		78.0		53.0		51.0	$16,027	$1,428	$11,268
Murray Middle School	Public	4-8	801 Main St	Murray	42071	Calloway County	Murray Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 753-5125	645	44	14.6	47.4%	492 (76.3%)	30 (4.7%)	58 (9.0%)	17 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (7.1%)	96	6^th of 326 public middle schools	98.2%		92.5	9^th of 320 public middle schools	97.2%	3	67.0	69.0	80.0	74.0	62.0	72.0	72.0	81.0	78.0	63.0	64.0	55.0	63.0	85.0	53.0	55.0	66.0	70.0
Mayfield Middle School	Public	5-8	112 W College St	Mayfield	42066	Graves County	Mayfield Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 247-7521	559	33	16.9	67.6%	208 (37.2%)	67 (12.0%)	214 (38.3%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	62 (11.1%)	45.1	177^th of 326 public middle schools	45.7%		62.8	108^th of 320 public middle schools	66.3%	69		21.0	34.0	36.0	33.0		25.0	50.0	49.0	42.0		26.0	37.0	56.0	18.0	40.0	32.0	47.0	$14,996	$18,873	$23,053
Graves County Middle School	Public	7-8	625 Jimtown Rd	Mayfield	42066	Graves County	Graves County	No	No	No	No	(270) 328-4890	556	32	17.3	52.2%	465 (83.6%)	12 (2.2%)	40 (7.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.5%)	78.4	48^th of 326 public middle schools	85.3%		72.1	70^th of 320 public middle schools	78.1%	22				47.0	61.0				66.0	55.0		38.0		54.0		49.0		57.0	$13,268	$718	$12,550
Reidland Middle School	Public	6-8	5351 Benton Rd	Paducah	42001	McCracken County	McCracken County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 538-4190	350	24	14.8	68.3%	275 (78.6%)	20 (5.7%)	32 (9.1%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.0%)	60.5	107^th of 326 public middle schools	67.2%		52.4	144^th of 320 public middle schools	55.0%	37			53.0	43.0	44.0			50.0	56.0	47.0		30.0		55.0		39.0		57.0

Frequently Asked Questions about South Marshall Middle

What is the racial makeup of South Marshall Middle?

Students at South Marshall Middle are 91% White, 6% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

What district is South Marshall Middle in?

Marshall County

Is South Marshall Middle a good school?

South Marshall Middle ranks 242^nd of 326 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend South Marshall Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 432 students attended South Marshall Middle.

Rate South Marshall Middle!

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KYKentucky Middle School Rankings

KYKentucky District Rankings

Schools in Benton, KY

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 15, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 KSA test scoresOct 15, 2026

2024–25 KSA test scoresOct 30, 2025

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