Summary:
Parsons, Tennessee, is served by two public schools in Decatur County Schools: Parsons Elementary School (PK–4, 365 students) and Decatur County Middle School (5–8, 424 students), with no high school within city limits and a combined enrollment of 789 students.
The standout in Parsons is clearly Decatur County Middle School. It has earned 4 stars in all three reported school rankings and sits in the 74th percentile statewide for 2025–2026. The middle school beats the state average in every subject, with especially strong science (56.7% proficient) and social studies (55.2% proficient) scores. Its 8th-grade results are exceptional, particularly in math (63.2% proficient vs. 38.3% statewide). By contrast, Parsons Elementary School has dropped to 2 stars and the 40th percentile statewide, down from the 62nd percentile two years earlier. The elementary school trails the district and state in math and science, with only 39.4% proficient in math and 42.2% in science. Its 4th-grade science proficiency is just 38.3% vs. a 50.1% state average. Simply put, the middle school is the area’s academic engine, while the elementary school is the weak link.
For parents, several practical issues stand out. Chronic absenteeism exceeds the district rate at both schools—19.6% at the middle school and 18.1% at the elementary school, compared with a 15.3% district average—so attendance should be a priority. Parsons Elementary actually spends more per student ($12,422 vs. $11,680) yet posts lower proficiency, suggesting resources alone aren’t solving early-grade challenges. Elementary math is a particular concern: 3rd-grade math proficiency is only 42.9% vs. a 63.0% district average. Meanwhile, the middle school’s math proficiency fell 8 points in one year, even as ELA, science, and social studies improved sharply. With no high school in Parsons, students head elsewhere after 8th grade, so building strong foundational skills before that transition is essential.
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