Summary:
DeKalb County Schools in Tennessee is home to one middle school, DeKalb Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in the Smithville area with 534 students. The school is part of DeKalb County Schools, which currently ranks 96th out of 141 districts in the state, placing it in the 32nd percentile with a 2-star rating. DeKalb Middle itself also holds a 2-star rating and ranks 370th out of 594 Tennessee middle schools for 2025–2026, putting it in the 38th percentile.
For parents, the most important takeaway is that DeKalb Middle shows clear strengths in specific areas. Social Studies is the school’s best subject, with 47.8% of students proficient overall, and 7th graders shine at 59.6% proficiency—above the state average of 56.0%. Similarly, 8th grade math stands out, with 39.6% proficiency, just ahead of the state’s 38.3%. These bright spots suggest effective teaching in those areas. On the other hand, English Language Arts is the weakest subject, with only 26.9% proficiency overall, and every grade level trails both district and state averages. Sixth grade science is also a concern, showing a 17-point gap behind the state (31.0% vs. 48.0%).
Encouragingly, the school is improving. From 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, proficiency rose in every subject—math by +3.2 points, ELA by +2.5, science by +4.7, and social studies by a strong +8.0 points. This improvement helped the school jump 31 spots in the state ranking, though the star rating remains at 2. One area needing attention is chronic absenteeism: at 19.3%, it’s higher than both the district (15.2%) and state (18.3%), which can hold back academic growth. Overall, DeKalb Middle is an upward-trending school with real strengths in social studies and 8th grade math, but parents should be aware of the need for stronger literacy support and better attendance habits.
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