Middle Schools in Bedford County Schools

Bedford County Schools has three middle schools serving grades 6–8 in Bedford County, Tennessee — Harris Middle School, Cascade Middle School, and Community Middle School — and these schools show dramatically different levels of performance. Cascade Middle School is the clear standout, ranked in the 82nd percentile statewide (4 stars) with the highest proficiency rates in every subject — math at 59%, ELA at 39.2%, science at 54%, and social studies at 62.6%. Community Middle School sits in the middle, ranked in the 49th percentile (2 stars) and generally tracking close to district averages. Harris Middle School is the largest but the most struggling, ranked in the 11th percentile (1 star) with proficiency rates that are far below both district and state averages in every subject.

Across the district, the gaps between the best and worst schools are enormous. In math, Cascade posts a 59.0% proficiency rate while Harris posts only 14.5% — a 44.5-point gap. Social studies shows a similar chasm: 62.6% at Cascade versus 21.7% at Harris. Chronic absenteeism aligns with these outcomes: Cascade has the lowest rate at 18.6%, while Harris and Community both sit at 22.5% — above the district’s 17.9% and the state’s 18.3%. Per-student spending also favors Cascade at $12,553, compared to $11,491 at Community and $10,844 at Harris.

There are some positive signs. Every school improved in math and ELA from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, with Community showing the strongest gains (+5.9 points math, +5.6 ELA). Harris has a notable bright spot: its Algebra I students scored 50% proficient, far above the district and state averages, even though overall math proficiency was only 11%. However, Harris also shows a worrying decline by 8th grade, with proficiency dropping in both math and ELA compared to 6th grade, while Cascade and Community both have strong 8th grade math results. In short, Bedford County’s middle schools represent two very different realities: Cascade is a top-tier school, Community is a solid mid-range option, and Harris needs substantial support.