Summary:
Perry County Schools, a small district in rural western Tennessee, operates a single middle school: Linden Middle School, which serves roughly 217 students in grades 5 through 8. Because Linden is the only middle school in the district, its performance defines the district's entire middle school profile, making state-level comparisons especially meaningful. The school holds a 3-star state rating while the district as a whole sits at 1-star, and its state rank has stayed near the middle of Tennessee's middle schools for three straight years, moving from the 58th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 50th percentile in 2025–2026.
Linden Middle School posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.7%, better than both the district average of 15.4% and the state average of 18.3%, a positive sign for engagement. In 2025–2026 TNReady testing, science is the school's standout subject at 47.6% proficient, edging out the state average of 46.9%. English language arts (34.9%) and math (34.4%) trail the state by roughly 6 to 9 points, while social studies is the largest overall gap at 40.4% proficient versus 51.4% statewide. Encouragingly, the school improved in both social studies (+5.3 points) and science (+3.8 points) from the prior year, while math and ELA stayed essentially flat.
Grade-level results show some bright spots and some concerns. Sixth grade science is remarkable at 62.1% proficiency, 14 points above the state, and 6th grade math (44.8%) also tops the state average. On the other hand, 5th grade math is a major concern at just 19.6% proficient compared to 47.4% statewide, and 8th grade science (30.2%) and 8th grade social studies (32.6%) are well below state averages. With its strong attendance record, consistent 3-star rating, and recent gains in two tested subjects, Linden Middle School is a relative bright spot within a 1-star district and has clear opportunities for growth in specific grade-level subjects.
Thank you for your feedback!