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Walter J. Baird Middle School

Q: Is Walter J. Baird Middle School a good school?

Walter J. Baird Middle School ranks 183 rd of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

183^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 594 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 69% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Walter J. Baird Middle School in Lebanon, Tennessee, serves 757 students in grades 6–8 as part of the Lebanon Special School District. The school currently holds a 3-star rating, ranking 183rd out of 594 Tennessee middle schools (69th percentile)—a solid mid-to-upper-tier position. Within its own district, Baird is clearly the stronger option, outranking Winfree Bryant Middle School across nearly every tested subject, including math (40.5% vs. 34.5%), ELA (39.3% vs. 37.5%), and Algebra I (92% vs. 87.5%), while spending less per student ($10,690 vs. $12,230).

The school's biggest academic bright spot is advanced math: 92% of 8th graders taking Algebra I scored proficient, above both district and state averages. Science and social studies are also relative strengths, exceeding state averages in every grade level. However, grade-level math proficiency remains a weakness, dropping from 51.1% in 6th grade to roughly 35% in both 7th and 8th grades, and reading proficiency follows a similar decline. Encouragingly, Baird has shown real progress in supporting students who need it most: low-income students jumped from the 26th percentile statewide in 2023–2024 to the 53rd percentile in 2025–2026, and students receiving special education services now rank in the 84th percentile.

The clearest area for improvement is attendance. Baird's chronic absenteeism rate of 18.6% is the highest among nearby middle schools, exceeding Station Camp Middle School (11.0%), Gladeville Middle School (11.2%), and Jim Satterfield Middle School (10.6%). Regionally, Baird sits between two groups: it trails high performers like Gladeville and Mt. Juliet Middle School, but comfortably outperforms lower-ranked schools such as DuPont Tyler Middle School and Rucker Stewart Middle School. While the school has not yet returned to its 4-star rankings of 2017–2019, its improving subgroup results suggest a school making steady progress in serving a diverse student body.

757

Students ?

19.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,690

Per pupil spending ?

24.3%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

131 W J B Pride Lane
Lebanon, TN 37087

(615) 444-2190

District: Lebanon Special School District

Feeder schools for Walter J. Baird Middle School:

Elementary:	Coles Ferry Elementary School
	Sam Houston Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.9%

African American:

21.9%

Hispanic:

19.3%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare Walter J. Baird Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 43rd percentile in 2015 → 69th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 26 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Tennessee median (69th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg47%

Tennessee avg44%

183^rd of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 31%▼ down 8 pts since 2017

From top 23% (2017) to top 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Middle Schools in the Lebanon Special School District

48^th of 141Lebanon Special School District 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2018	80.1	138 of 997	86.2%	★★★★☆
2015	61.0	338 of 855	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	42.5	539 of 853	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	51.9	518 of 846	38.8%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	183 of 594	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.2	195 of 583	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.3	221 of 587	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.1	247 of 594	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.4	190 of 569	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.1	182 of 576	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.8	69 of 574	88.0%	★★★★☆
2018	82.1	59 of 563	89.5%	★★★★☆
2017	68.1	84 of 362	76.8%	★★★★☆
2015	50.6	280 of 492	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	50.9	255 of 485	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	62.5	196 of 475	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	36.4	330 of 466	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	75.2	103 of 462	77.7%	★★★★☆
2010	64.6	143 of 435	67.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	65.8	91 of 328	72.3%	★★★★☆
2025	53.7	110 of 312	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.9	118 of 318	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.9	137 of 316	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.5	109 of 299	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.6	130 of 277	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.0	110 of 293	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.4	77 of 284	72.9%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2023	48.4	19 of 42	54.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	60.2	186 of 546	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.0	224 of 554	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.6	231 of 560	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.7	181 of 552	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.1	200 of 538	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.8	70 of 529	86.8%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	46.2	152 of 302	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.4	136 of 286	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.1	150 of 285	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.5	199 of 285	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.8	162 of 275	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.1	101 of 261	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.9	39 of 228	82.9%	★★★★☆
2018	82.8	20 of 219	90.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	49.1	226 of 478	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.4	235 of 490	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	28.8	378 of 510	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.1	370 of 514	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	43.5	256 of 495	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.2	222 of 483	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.5	37 of 490	92.4%	★★★★★
2018	82.1	23 of 481	95.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	57.9	203 of 550	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.5	219 of 560	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.3	250 of 557	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.4	208 of 540	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.3	152 of 529	71.3%	★★★★☆
2019	77.8	69 of 523	86.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	64.8	55 of 349	84.2%	★★★★☆
2025	49.3	114 of 332	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.0	82 of 299	72.6%	★★★★☆
2023	34.6	174 of 288	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.4	74 of 260	71.5%	★★★★☆
2021	50.4	68 of 238	71.4%	★★★★☆
2018	47.7	116 of 279	58.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	66.6	130 of 494	73.7%	★★★★☆
2025	66.5	125 of 492	74.6%	★★★★☆
2024	60.4	163 of 504	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.6	174 of 503	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.1	123 of 500	75.4%	★★★★☆
2021	63.4	141 of 496	71.6%	★★★★☆
2019	80.6	64 of 484	86.8%	★★★★☆
2018	84.2	49 of 481	89.8%	★★★★★

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)

Middle school

Special Education (2026)84th percentile+15 vs school

White (2026)74th percentile+4 vs school

African American (2026)72nd percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)66th percentile~ school

Male (2025)63rd percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2023)55th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)53rd percentile-16 vs school

Hispanic (2026)50th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I92%+60 vs state

Social Studies55%+4 vs state

Science52%+5 vs state

Mathematics40%~ state avg

English Language Arts39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Walter J. Baird 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 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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	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 Geometry 8th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	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
Walter J. Baird Middle School	Public	6-8	131 W J B Pride Lane	Lebanon	37087	Wilson County	Lebanon Special School District	No	No	No	No	(615) 444-2190	698	37	19.0	24.3%	380 (54.4%)	136 (19.5%)	127 (18.2%)	9 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (6.3%)	64.6	183^rd of 594 public middle schools	69.2%		61.2	195^th of 583 public middle schools	66.6%	12	51.1	34.8	35.8	40.5	43.3	40.9	34.5	39.3		92.0	92.0			56.2	51.3	48.3	51.8	52.8	57.5	54.9	55.0	$10,690	$342	$9,789
Winfree Bryant Middle School	Public	6-8	1213 Leeville PIKE	Lebanon	37087	Wilson County	Lebanon Special School District	No	No	No	No	(615) 449-6060	613	31	19.7	22.6%	319 (52.0%)	80 (13.1%)	160 (26.1%)	15 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (6.2%)	58.5	229^th of 594 public middle schools	61.4%		58.8	212^th of 583 public middle schools	63.6%	17	43.0	31.9	26.1	34.5	42.2	36.3	33.3	37.5		87.5	87.5			52.5	46.1	44.0	47.8	52.5	60.8	52.7	55.3	$12,230	$667	$10,978
Gladeville Middle School	Public	6-8	8275 Stewarts Ferry PIKE	Mount Juliet	37122	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 444-3282	977	58	16.8	7.2%	681 (69.7%)	89 (9.1%)	80 (8.2%)	87 (8.9%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	35 (3.6%)	95.6	19^th of 594 public middle schools	96.8%		94.4	28^th of 583 public middle schools	95.2%	9	74.1	61.3	71.9	68.9	64.4	57.5	59.2	60.5		≥ 95%	≥ 95%			74.9	71.4	79.2	75.1	82.6	80.5	81.5	81.6	$10,726	$271	$9,993
Watertown Middle School	Public	6-8	515 W. Main Street	Watertown	37184	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 237-4000	326	26	12.7	17.6%	285 (87.4%)	5 (1.5%)	24 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.1%)	77.4	97^th of 594 public middle schools	83.7%		78.6	89^th of 583 public middle schools	84.7%	8	44.8	52.9	53.7	50.2	40.0	45.2	38.6	41.3		94.7	94.7			61.9	60.6	55.4	59.4	57.1	70.2	70.3	65.8	$13,157	$414	$12,037
Mt. Juliet Middle School	Public	6-8	3565 N. Mt Juliet Road	Mount Juliet	37122	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 754-6688	1,025	61	16.7	10.4%	771 (75.2%)	79 (7.7%)	96 (9.4%)	27 (2.6%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (4.8%)	87.3	51^st of 594 public middle schools	91.4%		89.9	45^th of 583 public middle schools	92.3%	6	59.4	59.6	59.0	59.3	51.8	48.1	46.1	48.7		≥ 95%	≥ 95%			69.8	68.4	58.9	65.7	68.4	79.1	62.1	69.9	$10,739	$269	$10,001
West Wilson Middle School	Public	6-8	935 North Mt. Juliet Road	Mount Juliet	37122	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 758-5152	1,303	69	18.8	8.2%	918 (70.5%)	121 (9.3%)	147 (11.3%)	51 (3.9%)	5 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	59 (4.5%)	91.5	36^th of 594 public middle schools	93.9%		90.5	41^st of 583 public middle schools	93.0%	5	67.8	59.0	67.1	64.2	56.2	51.0	49.3	52.1		≥ 95%	≥ 95%			73.8	67.0	66.0	68.9	75.3	78.8	71.8	75.4	$9,641	$446	$8,800
Jim Satterfield Middle School	Public	6-8	210 Damascus Avenue	Hartsville	37074	Trousdale County	Trousdale County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 374-2748	328	21	15.7	23.9%	256 (78.0%)	27 (8.2%)	29 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.6%)	83.4	70^th of 594 public middle schools	88.2%		83	68^th of 583 public middle schools	88.3%	2	54.0	66.7	66.3	61.9	48.4	43.9	39.5	44.4						60.5	73.2	55.8	64.0	57.3	82.9	59.3	67.3	$11,561	$360	$10,117
Rucker Stewart Middle School	Public	6-8	350 Hancock Street	Gallatin	37066	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 452-1734	643	45	14.2	30.6%	248 (38.6%)	185 (28.8%)	167 (26.0%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (5.4%)	32.9	418^th of 594 public middle schools	29.6%		39.4	355^th of 583 public middle schools	39.1%	63	31.9	25.8	35.4	31.0	25.9	18.1	26.4	23.5						29.2	32.4	30.3	30.6	42.2	46.2	40.0	42.8	$13,645	$594	$12,172
Joe Shafer Middle School	Public	6-8	240 Albert Gallatin Boulevard	Gallatin	37066	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 452-9100	635	46	13.9	25.5%	369 (58.1%)	129 (20.3%)	105 (16.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	27 (4.3%)	39.3	372^nd of 594 public middle schools	37.4%		38.5	368^th of 583 public middle schools	36.9%	4	39.1	37.4	31.0	36.0	32.2	23.8	25.5	27.2						46.0	35.9	25.0	36.0	41.6	39.3	42.4	41.0	$12,359	$292	$11,379
Station Camp Middle School	Public	6-8	281 Big Station Camp Boulevard	Gallatin	37066	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 206-0116	861	57	15.1	5.5%	647 (75.1%)	83 (9.6%)	64 (7.4%)	27 (3.1%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.2%)	93	32^nd of 594 public middle schools	94.6%		95.1	21^st of 583 public middle schools	96.4%	11	68.5	67.9	71.1	69.1	57.6	53.2	58.2	56.2						72.8	74.9	70.7	72.8	71.0	74.2	66.1	70.5	$10,903	$297	$10,118

Frequently Asked Questions about Walter J. Baird Middle School

What district is Walter J. Baird Middle School in?

Lebanon Special School District

How many students attend Walter J. Baird Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 757 students attended Walter J. Baird Middle School.

Is Walter J. Baird Middle School a good school?

Walter J. Baird Middle School ranks 183^rd of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Walter J. Baird Middle School?

Students at Walter J. Baird Middle School are 50% White, 22% African American, 19% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.

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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.