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Southern Middle School

Q: Is Southern Middle School a good school?

Southern Middle School ranks 43 rd of 326 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

43^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 326 Kentucky Middle Schools

Better than 87% of Kentucky middle schools

Summary

Southern Middle School serves 871 students in grades 6–8 in Pulaski County, Kentucky; it has the largest enrollment among the nearby schools compared here. Pulaski County ranks 19th of 158 districts on SchoolDigger, at the 88th percentile with four stars. The most important caution is the sharp gap in SchoolDigger’s group rankings: Special Education Students ranked at the 23rd percentile in 2025–2026, compared with 87th percentile overall, and their standing fell 30 points from 2023–2024.

Southern’s clearest academic strength is 8th-grade writing: in 2025–2026, 73% of students were proficient, compared with 60% in the district and 48% statewide, and about 36 percentage points above the nearby-school average. Its 8th-grade math, social studies, and editing and mechanics results also topped those at Northern Middle School, Wayne County Middle School, and Meece Middle School. Science is the relative weak spot: Southern scored 39% in 7th grade, 3 points below the district, though 11 points above the state and above the nearby-school average of 31%. Attendance is another concern: chronic absenteeism was 28% in 2025–2026, compared with 25% in the district and 24% statewide.

Results have generally improved since 2022–2023: subject averages rose by 3 to 16 points, with the largest gain in social studies, and Southern’s lead over the state widened in every subject. SchoolDigger ranks the school 43rd of 326 statewide, at the 87th percentile with four stars; it ranks highest among the nearby schools with current ranking data. The school’s 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 19.7, higher than the other nearby schools, while 65% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that school year, close to the nearby-school average of 67%. These measures provide context alongside the school’s results, but do not explain them.

871

Students ?

19.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,477

Per pupil spending ?

64.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

200 Enterprise Dr
Somerset, KY 42501

(606) 679-6855

District: Pulaski County

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.0%

Hispanic:

6.2%

Two or more races:

3.0%

See top rated Kentucky middle schools

Compare Southern Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 79th percentile in 2016 → 87th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (57% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of Kentucky middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg55%

Kentucky avg42%

43^rd of 326

Kentucky public middle schools ?

Top 13%▲ up 7 pts since 2016

From top 21% (2016) to top 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Middle Schools in the Pulaski County

19^th of 158Pulaski 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	80.6	43 of 326	86.8%	★★★★☆
2025	78.3	45 of 320	85.9%	★★★★☆
2024	79.4	44 of 324	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	69.2	70 of 327	78.6%	★★★★☆
2022	78.5	40 of 320	87.5%	★★★★☆
2021	70.2	50 of 282	82.3%	★★★★☆
2019	83.3	25 of 335	92.5%	★★★★★
2018	80.0	31 of 322	90.4%	★★★★★
2017	73.1	58 of 330	82.4%	★★★★☆
2016	71.0	68 of 331	79.5%	★★★★☆
2015	69.9	72 of 337	78.6%	★★★★☆
2014	70.6	66 of 335	80.3%	★★★★☆
2013	62.9	97 of 335	71.0%	★★★★☆
2012	55.9	132 of 319	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	72.5	74 of 304	75.7%	★★★★☆
2010	68.9	82 of 299	72.6%	★★★★☆
2009	69.0	81 of 289	72.0%	★★★★☆
2008	59.6	106 of 287	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	60.4	105 of 284	63.0%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	27.8	23 of 32	28.1%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	52.8	31 of 111	72.1%	★★★★☆
2019	67.4	43 of 226	81.0%	★★★★☆
2018	41.9	99 of 219	54.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	82.3	30 of 299	90.0%	★★★★★
2025	80.9	32 of 298	89.3%	★★★★☆
2024	83.3	27 of 300	91.0%	★★★★★
2023	76.5	44 of 295	85.1%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	39 of 299	87.0%	★★★★☆
2021	61.7	59 of 233	74.7%	★★★★☆
2019	83.7	22 of 299	92.6%	★★★★★
2018	79.0	30 of 290	89.7%	★★★★☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	71.4	3 of 10	70.0%	★★★★☆
2018	59.3	3 of 4	25.0%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	62.1	20 of 62	67.7%	★★★★☆
2018	69.0	8 of 63	87.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	71.1	32 of 134	76.1%	★★★★☆
2025	69.6	29 of 131	77.9%	★★★★☆
2024	76.2	15 of 123	87.8%	★★★★☆
2023	73.0	24 of 119	79.8%	★★★★☆
2022	61.5	43 of 120	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.5	3 of 20	85.0%	★★★★☆
2019	81.4	13 of 120	89.2%	★★★★☆
2018	74.9	13 of 116	88.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	79.3	35 of 313	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	76.0	53 of 314	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	79.5	30 of 311	90.4%	★★★★★
2023	66.3	75 of 309	75.7%	★★★★☆
2022	79.1	29 of 310	90.6%	★★★★★
2021	73.4	29 of 224	87.1%	★★★★☆
2019	89.1	9 of 303	97.0%	★★★★★
2018	85.8	14 of 285	95.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	75.8	51 of 299	82.9%	★★★★☆
2025	72.1	66 of 303	78.2%	★★★★☆
2024	71.8	64 of 304	78.9%	★★★★☆
2023	59.2	109 of 307	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.0	52 of 304	82.9%	★★★★☆
2021	69.8	40 of 222	82.0%	★★★★☆
2019	79.4	39 of 303	87.1%	★★★★☆
2018	78.0	34 of 293	88.4%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	50.8	41 of 107	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.9	31 of 95	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	72.8	12 of 98	87.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	26.1	109 of 142	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.1	77 of 126	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.7	61 of 130	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.7	76 of 124	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	83.4	29 of 294	90.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	76.6	57 of 316	82.0%	★★★★☆
2025	74.2	51 of 314	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	74.5	57 of 316	82.0%	★★★★☆
2023	64.1	90 of 320	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	74.9	46 of 314	85.4%	★★★★☆
2021	60.7	61 of 213	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	77.5	39 of 266	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	73.6	45 of 253	82.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2026)90th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)89th percentile~ school

Male (2026)83rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)82nd percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)76th percentile-11 vs school

Disabled (2022)72nd percentile-15 vs school

Foster Care (2019)70th percentile-23 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2019)68th percentile-25 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)62nd percentile-25 vs school

Asian (2025)28th percentile-58 vs school

Special Education (2026)23rd percentile-64 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Writing73%+25 vs state

Editing and Mechanics62%+20 vs state

Reading62%+14 vs state

Social Studies59%+20 vs state

Mathematics52%+12 vs state

Science39%+11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southern Middle School

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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 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th 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
Southern Middle School	Public	6-8	200 Enterprise Dr	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	No	(606) 679-6855	871	44	19.7	64.8%	758 (87.0%)	7 (0.8%)	54 (6.2%)	23 (2.6%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.0%)	80.6	43^rd of 326 public middle schools	86.8%		78.3	45^th of 320 public middle schools	85.9%	2		47.0	46.0	62.0		63.0	60.0	62.0	39.0		73.0		59.0		62.0	$11,477	$892	$10,585
Meece Middle School	Public	5-8	210 Barnett St	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Somerset Independent	No	No	No	No	(606) 678-5821	486	34	14.2	66.3%	387 (79.6%)	20 (4.1%)	54 (11.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.5%)	45.4	175^th of 326 public middle schools	46.3%		50.8	146^th of 320 public middle schools	54.4%	29	38.0	44.0	49.0	41.0	56.0	49.0	59.0	36.0	29.0	41.0	36.0	37.0	30.0	51.0	40.0	$14,207	$2,139	$12,070
Northern Middle School	Public	6-8	650 Oak Leaf Lane	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	No	(606) 678-5230	797	46	17.3	59.1%	699 (87.7%)	5 (0.6%)	53 (6.6%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (4.4%)	75	56^th of 326 public middle schools	82.8%		72.4	69^th of 320 public middle schools	78.4%	13		54.0	45.0	55.0		66.0	68.0	52.0	47.0		46.0		52.0		49.0	$12,310	$790	$11,520
Wayne County Middle School	Public	6-8	95 Champion Drive	Monticello	42633	Wayne County	Wayne County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 348-6691	646	40	16.1	74.8%	561 (86.8%)	6 (0.9%)	61 (9.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.5%)	12.1	305^th of 326 public middle schools	6.4%		15.3	286^th of 320 public middle schools	10.6%	19		26.0	24.0	18.0		40.0	36.0	27.0	16.0		30.0		18.0		23.0	$14,715	$1,538	$11,892

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Middle School

Is Southern Middle School a good school?

Southern Middle School ranks 43^rd of 326 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Southern Middle School?

Students at Southern Middle School are 87% White, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

How many students attend Southern Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 871 students attended Southern Middle School.

What district is Southern Middle School in?

Pulaski County

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 15, 2026

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

2025–26 KSA test scoresNewOct 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.