Macon County Schools

Macon County Schools serves about 4,216 students across 8 schools in Tennessee, ranking 77th of 141 districts with a 2-star rating. The district uses a grade-band feeder system: Fairlane Elementary School (PK-1), Central Elementary School (2-3), Lafayette Elementary School (4-5), Westside Elementary School (PK-5), and Red Boiling Springs Elementary School (PK-5) feed into Macon County Junior High School (6-8), then on to Macon County High School (9-12) or Red Boiling Springs School (6-12).

Standout schools include Westside Elementary School, the district's strongest academic performer, with a 70th-percentile rank, 61.3% math proficiency, and just 6.7% chronic absenteeism. Central Elementary School holds the highest rank in the district at the 72nd percentile. At the secondary level, Macon County High School is clearly stronger, graduating 98.7% of students and posting Algebra II proficiency of 59.3%, far above the state's 37.3%. Red Boiling Springs School is the area of concern, ranking in the 23rd percentile with Algebra I proficiency of just 13.6% and English I at 18.6%.

Elementary math is the district's clear strength, averaging about 53% proficiency across tested schools — 10 points above the state. However, Macon County Junior High School shows a sharp ELA decline at 33.3% proficiency, below every elementary campus. Both high schools post graduation rates above 97% despite below-state test scores in most subjects, suggesting students may graduate without fully mastering grade-level content. Notably, Red Boiling Springs School spends the most per student ($14,962) yet delivers the weakest results, while Macon County Junior High School spends the least ($11,203) yet ranks in the 61st percentile. Chronic absenteeism is low districtwide at 7.8% versus 18.3% statewide, though high schools run about double the elementary rate.