Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School

Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School in Somerville, TN, is a traditional public high school serving 724 students in grades 9–12 within the Fayette County Schools district. The school has faced significant academic challenges in recent years, but the latest data show a promising turnaround trend, with its statewide rank improving from the 9th percentile (2023–2024) to the 24th percentile (2025–2026).

Compared to nearby Arlington High School—which sits in the 89th percentile—Fayette Ware still has large gaps in core subjects like English I, Algebra II, and US History. However, there are clear bright spots: the school posted substantial one-year gains in geometry (11.8% to 32.2% proficiency), English II (35.2% to 51.5%), and Algebra I (5.4% to 20.6%). Notably, African American students, special education students, and low-income students all performed above the school’s overall percentile in 2025–2026, with special education students ranking in the 68th percentile statewide. These gains suggest effective supports for historically underserved groups, even if overall proficiency remains below state averages.

The school’s biggest ongoing challenges are chronic absenteeism (29.2% vs. 18.3% statewide) and a dropout rate that has risen to 9.0%, roughly four times higher than Arlington’s 2.1%. On a positive note, the graduation rate has improved for three straight years to 89.2%, close to the state average of 90.5%. Fayette Ware also spends slightly more per student ($13,701) than Arlington ($13,293), highlighting that funding alone doesn’t explain the achievement gap. While the school’s trajectory is encouraging, sustained effort on attendance and academic support will be critical to closing the wide gaps that still exist against stronger nearby schools like Arlington.