Summary:
Located in Parsons, Tennessee, Decatur County Schools is served by a single middle school, Decatur County Middle School, which enrolls 424 students in grades 5–8. The school has earned a 4-star rating for three consecutive years and currently ranks 155th out of 594 Tennessee middle schools, placing it in the top quarter statewide.
Decatur County Middle School outperforms the state in all four tested subjects, with its strongest showing in science (56.7% proficient vs. 46.9% statewide) and social studies (55.2% vs. 51.4%). The 8th grade cohort is the clear academic standout, exceeding state averages by double digits in every subject — most dramatically in math, where 63.2% of 8th graders are proficient compared to just 38.3% statewide. However, the school shows a striking internal gap in math: only 32.7% of 5th graders are proficient versus 63.2% of 8th graders, the opposite of the statewide trend. Year-over-year results were mixed, as math proficiency declined by 8 points, but the school posted strong gains in ELA (+7.7), science (+7.6), and social studies (+10.5), helping to improve its overall state ranking.
The biggest concern is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 19.6% — higher than both the district's 15.3% and the state's 18.3% averages. Weakness in 5th and 7th grade math also bears watching, as those grades trail the state while 6th and 8th grades exceed it. Still, with a top-quartile state ranking, 4-star status, and strong upper-grade performance, Decatur County Middle School is a solid choice for families in the district. Its ability to translate 8th grade success into earlier grades will determine whether its recent ranking gains continue.
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