Paris Special School District

Paris Special School District in Tennessee serves approximately 1,538 students across three schools — two elementary schools and one middle school — covering grades PK-8 in a small, tight-knit community with no high school. The district overall earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 82nd percentile statewide, with chronic absenteeism below the Tennessee average and test scores that generally exceed state levels in math and ELA.

For parents, the standout is W O Inman Middle School, which ranks in the 80th percentile of Tennessee middle schools and has the district’s best attendance rate at 14.9%. Its 8th-grade math proficiency is an exceptional 70.6% — nearly double the state average — and its social studies (62.5%) and science (59.1%) scores are strong. The challenge is ELA: only 36.9% of students are proficient, with a sharp dip to 28.2% in 7th grade. Meanwhile, Paris Elementary School excels in math (56.4% proficient) and solidly beats the state in ELA (47.9%), but its science proficiency (46.2%) trails the district average and barely matches the state. Its scores also decline by grade, with 5th-grade science at just 42.4%. W G Rhea Elementary School, serving the youngest students in PK-2, has no test data but spends the most per student at $14,790 — likely reflecting the needs of early elementary learners.

Overall, this district is a solid choice with a standout middle school and a strong elementary math program. Attendance is healthier than the state everywhere, and spending is competitive across schools. The main red flag is middle school English Language Arts, especially 7th grade, which deserves targeted support. Another concern is the downward trend in elementary science, suggesting the district could benefit from sharing Inman Middle’s successful science strategies with its lower grades. Since there is no high school in the district, students transition elsewhere after 8th grade, making the middle school’s strong preparation especially valuable.