E O Coffman Middle School

E O Coffman Middle School is a public school serving 586 students in grades 6–8 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, within Lawrence County Schools. The school currently holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 55th percentile of Tennessee middle schools — a solid mid-tier position that has improved over the past several years, though it slipped slightly from last year's stronger showing.

Academically, E O Coffman sits between its nearby peers. It clearly outpaces Bridgeforth Middle School in every core subject — often by wide margins — but trails Summertown Middle School in math, English, and social studies, while actually leading Summertown in science. Across all subjects, the school remains below both district and state averages, though social studies is a quiet strength, nearly matching the state average. One bright spot is 6th-grade English, where students outperform the state. However, 8th-grade English and math lag notably, suggesting a possible upper-grade challenge. The school also posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 20% — far higher than the district (14.5%), the state (18.3%), and more than double Bridgeforth's rate — which is likely holding back achievement.

On the positive side, E O Coffman has shown real improvement in math and English over the past few years, and it spends less per student ($10,972) than either nearby school, suggesting efficient use of resources. Yet that progress is uneven: while male and female students have improved statewide rankings, other student groups — including those receiving special education services and students from low-income households — have seen recent declines. These gaps are important for parents to understand, even as the school builds on its strengths. With continued focus on attendance and supporting all students, E O Coffman has a solid foundation to turn recent gains into lasting schoolwide success.