Hickman County Schools

Hickman County Schools is a 9-school district in rural Tennessee serving about 3,001 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district ranks 87th out of 141 Tennessee districts, placing it in the 38th percentile with a 2-star rating. The strongest schools are Hickman County Middle School and Centerville Intermediate School, both earning 3-star ratings and sitting in the 58th percentile statewide. Hickman County Middle posts the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism (7.6%) and spends the least per regular student ($12,255) while still achieving the best middle school scores. Centerville Intermediate matches the state average in ELA (40.6%) and exceeds it in science (52.1% vs. 46.9%), making it the district’s most balanced elementary school. By contrast, Hickman County Learning Academy, with just 19 students, has the highest chronic absenteeism (29.2%) and strikingly low per-student spending of $6,460.

There are clear gaps between the two high schools. East Hickman High School improved dramatically from the 17th to 36th percentile, but its Algebra I (7.4%) and Algebra II (6.9%) proficiency rates are the lowest in the district. Hickman County Senior High School is the district’s top high school (44th percentile), excelling in Algebra II (51.9%) and English II (54.8%), yet struggling in Geometry (16.0%) and US History (23.7%). ELA is a district-wide weakness: only Centerville Intermediate reaches the state average, while middle schools sit at 28–32% proficiency. Chronic absenteeism is heavily concentrated in high schools and the alternative school, all exceeding 22%, compared to just 7.6% at Hickman County Middle.

Several schools show strong upward trends. East Hickman Intermediate School improved from the 33rd to 46th percentile, with math rising to 50.9%. East Hickman Middle School climbed to the 45th percentile. Spending does not align with results: Hickman County Middle School spends the least yet outperforms its peers, while Hickman County Senior High School spends the most but has notable weak spots. The district’s overall bright spots—consistent middle school performance, strong high school English II, and a clear feeder-pattern gap between Centerville and East Hickman schools—highlight where targeted support in algebra, literacy, and attendance could yield the biggest gains.