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W James Middle School

Q: Is W James Middle School a good school?

W James Middle School ranks 203 rd of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

203^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 594 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 66% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

W James Middle School is a small middle school in White Bluff, TN, serving 239 students in grades 6–8 as part of Dickson County Schools. The school currently ranks 203rd out of 594 Tennessee middle schools, earning a 3-star rating. That marks a notable decline from recent years — as recently as 2022–2023, the school ranked in the 87th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating. Over the past decade, it has generally been a solid, above-average school, but the last three years show a clear downward trend.

Academically, the school posts mixed results. Math proficiency sits at 33.8% and ELA at 33.2% — both well below the district (44.6% and 43.8%) and state (43.0% and 40.6%) averages. Nearby Burns Middle School outperforms W James in every core subject, with math at 48.7% and ELA at 44.4%. However, W James shines in science and social studies. Science proficiency is 58.3%, well above the state's 46.9%, and social studies reaches 61.4% compared to 51.4% statewide. The 7th grade social studies result is especially impressive at 80.2% proficiency, far exceeding the state's 56.0%.

W James spends more per student ($14,256) than any other middle school in the county and enjoys a favorable 10:1 student-teacher ratio, yet those resources haven't translated into stronger math and reading results. One possible factor is the absence of reported Algebra I scores — nearby schools like Dickson Middle School (95% proficient), Burns Middle School (89.7%), and Charlotte Middle School (82.6%) offer accelerated math pathways that W James may not. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism improved from 19.4% to 14.9% in one year, and the school serves its most vulnerable students well: low-income students ranked in the 90th percentile statewide, and special education students have performed consistently well for three consecutive years. If the school can extend its science and social studies strengths into math and ELA, it has a realistic path back to its former 4-star standing.

239

Students ?

10.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,256

Per pupil spending ?

45.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3030 Trace Creek Road
White Bluff, TN 37187

(615) 740-5770

District: Dickson County Schools

Students who attend W James Middle School usually attend:

High:

Creek Wood High School

Feeder schools for W James Middle School:

Elementary:

White Bluff Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.4%

Hispanic:

9.6%

Two or more races:

4.2%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare W James Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 88th percentile in 2015 → 66th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Tennessee median (66th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Dickson County Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg48%

Tennessee avg44%

203^rd of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 34%▼ down 12 pts since 2017

From top 22% (2017) to top 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4Middle Schools in the Dickson County Schools

54^th of 141Dickson County Schools among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	203 of 594	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.1	156 of 583	73.2%	★★★★☆
2024	70.7	131 of 587	77.7%	★★★★☆
2023	80.3	79 of 594	86.7%	★★★★☆
2022	77.3	86 of 569	84.9%	★★★★☆
2021	75.6	82 of 576	85.8%	★★★★☆
2019	76.6	79 of 574	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	78.7	75 of 563	86.7%	★★★★☆
2017	69.5	79 of 362	78.2%	★★★★☆
2015	81.0	58 of 492	88.2%	★★★★☆
2014	78.8	56 of 485	88.5%	★★★★☆
2013	79.7	61 of 475	87.2%	★★★★☆
2012	74.0	112 of 466	76.0%	★★★★☆
2011	82.0	65 of 462	85.9%	★★★★☆
2010	78.7	78 of 435	82.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	68.7	143 of 546	73.8%	★★★★☆
2024	71.7	117 of 554	78.9%	★★★★☆
2023	79.1	80 of 560	85.7%	★★★★☆
2022	74.4	91 of 552	83.5%	★★★★☆
2021	77.2	74 of 538	86.2%	★★★★☆
2019	76.2	73 of 529	86.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	35.7	193 of 302	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.1	222 of 286	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.1	174 of 285	38.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	77.8	48 of 478	90.0%	★★★★★
2025	55.5	185 of 490	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.7	138 of 510	72.9%	★★★★☆
2023	59.9	141 of 514	72.6%	★★★★☆
2022	83.0	27 of 495	94.5%	★★★★★
2021	79.5	29 of 483	94.0%	★★★★★
2019	71.3	70 of 490	85.7%	★★★★☆
2018	73.5	52 of 481	89.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	62.9	174 of 550	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.9	152 of 560	72.9%	★★★★☆
2023	78.2	78 of 557	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	75.8	86 of 540	84.1%	★★★★☆
2021	67.8	110 of 529	79.2%	★★★★☆
2019	74.8	79 of 523	84.9%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	55.4	11 of 22	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	55.1	91 of 349	73.9%	★★★★☆
2025	55.7	80 of 332	75.9%	★★★★☆
2024	52.0	81 of 299	72.9%	★★★★☆
2023	73.4	25 of 288	91.3%	★★★★★
2022	45.7	96 of 260	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.5	21 of 222	90.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	49.9	226 of 494	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.4	161 of 492	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.9	169 of 504	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.8	104 of 503	79.3%	★★★★☆
2022	68.4	113 of 500	77.4%	★★★★☆
2021	72.6	93 of 496	81.3%	★★★★☆
2019	71.3	88 of 484	81.8%	★★★★☆
2018	71.7	97 of 481	79.8%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)90th percentile+24 vs school

Special Education (2026)74th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)74th percentile~ school

Male (2025)68th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)54th percentile-12 vs school

Military Connected (2025)50th percentile-23 vs school

Hispanic (2026)36th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies61%+10 vs state

Science58%+11 vs state

Mathematics34%-9 vs state

English Language Arts33%-7 vs state

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Schools Near W James Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)					TNReady English Language Arts (2026)					TNReady Algebra I (2026)			TNReady Integrated Math I (2026)			TNReady Integrated Math II (2026)		TNReady Geometry (2026)		TNReady Science (2026)					TNReady Social Studies (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2020)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 7th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math I 7th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 8th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
W James Middle School	Public	6-8	3030 Trace Creek Road	White Bluff	37187	Dickson County	Dickson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 740-5770	233	23	10.0	45.8%	208 (89.3%)	1 (0.4%)	16 (6.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	61.8	203^rd of 594 public middle schools	65.8%		68.1	156^th of 583 public middle schools	73.2%	47		41.3	30.9	28.1	33.8		40.0	25.9	34.3	33.2		≥ 95%	≥ 95%									61.3	60.5	52.2	58.3	50.7	80.2	50.7	61.4	$14,256	$607	$12,738
Burns Middle School	Public	6-8	88 Bobcat Trail	Burns	37029	Dickson County	Dickson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 740-1860	491	33	15.1	47.4%	393 (80.0%)	10 (2.0%)	61 (12.4%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.3%)	79.9	81^st of 594 public middle schools	86.4%		84.8	56^th of 583 public middle schools	90.4%	25		47.6	55.4	41.7	48.7		47.0	48.7	37.2	44.4		89.7	89.7									59.6	62.7	63.5	61.9	62.7	74.1	67.3	67.9	$11,595	$716	$10,172
Harpeth Middle School	Public	5-8	170 Harpeth View Trail	Kingston Springs	37082	Cheatham County	Cheatham County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 952-2293	420	30	14.2	39.3%	362 (86.2%)	4 (1.0%)	42 (10.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.4%)	34.2	407^th of 594 public middle schools	31.5%		38.8	362^nd of 583 public middle schools	37.9%	45	52.2	32.8	34.9	16.3	34.5	53.3	31.7	24.7	20.8	32.3		53.8	53.8								55.4	41.5	32.9	34.9	41.1	36.6	49.4	31.1	38.2	$11,831	$566	$10,510
Charlotte Middle School	Public	6-8	250 Humphries Street	Charlotte	37036	Dickson County	Dickson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 740-6060	446	30	14.6	59.1%	378 (84.8%)	6 (1.3%)	35 (7.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.6%)	63.4	194^th of 594 public middle schools	67.3%		68.1	157^th of 583 public middle schools	73.1%	37		40.5	52.8	44.1	45.8		47.7	34.4	28.6	36.9		81.8	82.6									42.7	48.8	49.6	47.0	63.1	57.0	50.4	56.8	$11,929	$561	$10,605
Dickson Middle School	Public	6-8	401 E College Street	Dickson	37055	Dickson County	Dickson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 446-2273	563	44	12.8	52.0%	398 (70.7%)	36 (6.4%)	73 (13.0%)	6 (1.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (8.3%)	62.1	201^st of 594 public middle schools	66.2%		60.4	200^th of 583 public middle schools	65.7%	1		47.4	31.4	31.8	36.9		47.4	33.3	24.4	35.0		95.0	95.0									64.7	45.9	52.6	54.1	69.9	61.8	48.5	60.2	$11,729	$538	$10,499
Fairview Middle School	Public	6-8	7200 Cumberland Drive	Fairview	37062	Williamson County	Williamson County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 472-4430	519	42	12.3	33.0%	419 (80.7%)	24 (4.6%)	48 (9.2%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.2%)	71.4	141^st of 594 public middle schools	76.3%		72.5	131^st of 583 public middle schools	77.5%	10		26.3	43.5	55.1	42.5		39.4	40.7	40.1	40.1		≥ 95%	≥ 95%									54.9	55.9	64.8	58.4	64.1	67.2	54.9	62.5	$15,574	$296	$14,706
East Hickman Middle School	Public	6-8	9414 East Eagle Drive	Lyles	37098	Hickman County	Hickman County Schools	No	No	No	No	(931) 670-4237	362	21	17.3	52.0%	329 (90.9%)	6 (1.7%)	19 (5.2%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)	45	327^th of 594 public middle schools	44.9%		35.5	384^th of 583 public middle schools	34.1%	57		24.4	36.1	35.8	31.5		27.5	26.8	30.9	28.4												30.5	45.4	49.5	40.9	39.2	59.8	52.3	49.4	$13,098	$1,160	$10,897
Cheatham Middle School	Public	5-8	700 Scoutview Drive	Ashland City	37015	Cheatham County	Cheatham County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 792-2334	531	34	15.4	54.5%	415 (78.2%)	21 (4.0%)	64 (12.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	26 (4.9%)	35.2	403^rd of 594 public middle schools	32.2%		45.5	311^th of 583 public middle schools	46.7%	92	36.7	26.9	23.9	19.1	27.3	36.7	29.4	31.2	25.4	30.9		72.2	72.2								36.7	35.3	36.7	38.6	36.8	34.5	54.1	36.0	41.2	$12,202	$780	$10,106
Bellevue Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	655 Colice Jeanne Road	Nashville	37221	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 662-3000	382	20	18.7	45.7%	175 (45.8%)	88 (23.0%)	61 (16.0%)	25 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	32 (8.4%)	57.1	237^th of 594 public middle schools	60.1%		46.8	299^th of 583 public middle schools	48.7%	62		37.2	45.6	13.9	32.7		47.8	39.5	22.9	36.4					67.9	69.0						60.5	49.7	17.0	45.0	70.1	68.0	41.0	59.1	$16,831	$961	$15,049
H. G. Hill Middle School	Public	6-8	150 Davidson Road	Nashville	37205	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 353-2020	433	29	14.9		127 (29.3%)	97 (22.4%)	161 (37.2%)	29 (6.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.2%)	28.1	443^rd of 594 public middle schools	25.4%		26.4	446^th of 583 public middle schools	23.5%	3		12.2	31.5	16.3	20.3		23.7	28.5	13.1	21.9					89.5	89.5						38.2	43.8	29.3	37.2	29.0	47.7	22.1	33.2	$17,239	$897	$15,431

Frequently Asked Questions about W James Middle School

What district is W James Middle School in?

Dickson County Schools

What is the racial makeup of W James Middle School?

Students at W James Middle School are 85% White, 10% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of W James Middle School attend?

Students who attend W James Middle School usually go on to attend Creek Wood High School

How many students attend W James Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 239 students attended W James Middle School.

Is W James Middle School a good school?

W James Middle School ranks 203^rd of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate W James Middle School!

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.