Jackson Academic STEAM Academy

Jackson Academic STEAM Academy is a small alternative public school in Jackson, TN, serving 301 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade within the Jackson-Madison County Schools district, a district that currently holds a 0-star rating and ranks near the bottom of Tennessee districts. Because it is an alternative school, its students often include those who have struggled in traditional school settings, which helps explain why its numbers — from graduation rates to test scores — can swing significantly from one year to the next. With only a few hundred students, a handful of individual circumstances can shift percentages dramatically, so it's best to look at trends rather than any single year.

There are several genuine bright spots worth noting. The graduation rate recovered to 93.3% in 2024-2025, above both the district (93.1%) and the state (90.5%), following a sharp dip in 2022-2023. Chronic absenteeism has also improved steadily and now sits at 15.5% — well below the district's 28.2% and even below the state average of 18.3%, an impressive feat for an alternative school. Academically, the school outpaces its district in science, social studies, and upper-grade English Language Arts. For example, 6th grade science reached 58.3% proficiency versus a 48.0% state average, and 7th grade ELA hit 41.4%, above the state's 35.9%. These are meaningful pockets of strength, especially given the surrounding district's struggles.

The biggest challenge is math. Proficiency in math across all grades was just 21.4% in 2025-2026, far below the state's 43.0%, and upper-level courses like Algebra II sit at 7.1% proficiency. This is a notable disconnect for a school with STEAM in its name, since science is relatively strong but the math foundation that typically supports STEM success isn't there yet. On the positive side, the school maintains a very low student-teacher ratio of about 8 to 1 and spends roughly $14,000 per student annually, reflecting the intensive support its population needs. For parents, this is a school with real strengths in attendance, science, and upper-grade reading, but one where math achievement remains a serious concern.