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McNairy Central High School

Q: Is McNairy Central High School a good school?

McNairy Central High School ranks 230 th of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

230^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 389 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 41% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

McNairy Central High School is a public high school in Selmer, Tennessee, serving 713 students in grades 9-12 as part of the McNairy County School District. While the school's academic performance is generally below the state average, it shows some relative strengths in English II and US History. However, the school faces concerning disparities, with male students outperforming female students and significant gaps for African American students and students with special education needs.

Compared to nearby high schools, Chester County High School and Hardin County High School consistently outperform McNairy Central High School and the overall McNairy County district on standardized test scores, graduation rates, and other key metrics. Meanwhile, Adamsville High School, also within the McNairy County district, performs at a similar level to McNairy Central High School.

Over the past few years, McNairy Central High School's statewide ranking has declined, suggesting its performance may be deteriorating relative to other high schools in Tennessee. Addressing these challenges and ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities for all students should be a priority for the school and district.

673

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,073

Per pupil spending ?

99.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

493 High School Road
Selmer, TN 38375

(731) 645-3226

District: McNairy County

Feeder schools for McNairy Central High School:

Elementary:	Bethel Springs Elementary
	Ramer Elementary
	Selmer Elementary
Middle:	Selmer Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

84.0%

African American:

10.0%

Hispanic:

3.4%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare McNairy Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 64th percentile in 2022 → 41st in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (30% vs 40% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 64th-percentile peak (2022) to 41st (2025)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg30%

Tennessee avg40%

230^th of 389

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 41%▲ up 11 pts since 2015

From bottom 30% (2015) to bottom 41% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2High Schools in the McNairy County

72^nd of 139McNairy County 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
2025	37.7	230 of 389	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.7	195 of 392	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.2	158 of 384	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.9	130 of 358	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.1	190 of 347	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.0	160 of 342	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	32.0	245 of 341	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	14.6	261 of 273	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	41.1	219 of 351	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.0	211 of 300	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	43.0	198 of 296	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	69.5	63 of 285	77.9%	★★★★☆
2012	73.1	74 of 269	72.5%	★★★★☆
2011	70.4	72 of 273	73.6%	★★★★☆
2010	61.7	113 of 267	57.7%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	183 of 233	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.4	148 of 240	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	21.3	197 of 239	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.8	178 of 222	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.4	175 of 208	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.8	90 of 187	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	26.6	152 of 199	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	24.8	290 of 365	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.9	223 of 365	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.3	188 of 366	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.4	123 of 350	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.9	190 of 340	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.3	168 of 337	50.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	30.8	235 of 324	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.1	216 of 337	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.5	124 of 330	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.1	79 of 322	75.5%	★★★★☆
2021	41.4	177 of 317	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.3	130 of 302	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	23.1	266 of 308	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	48.7	165 of 368	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.2	152 of 366	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.1	142 of 359	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.7	121 of 349	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.9	193 of 332	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.1	137 of 329	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	21.3	186 of 198	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.7	178 of 183	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	60.1	32 of 127	74.8%	★★★★☆
2018	23.3	148 of 159	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	31.9	220 of 323	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.6	189 of 326	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.3	162 of 325	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.8	128 of 312	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	37.4	195 of 306	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.3	161 of 301	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.6	258 of 307	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2025)55th percentile+14 vs school

White (2025)32nd percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)27th percentile-13 vs school

African American (2025)21st percentile-19 vs school

Female (2025)21st percentile-20 vs school

Special Education (2025)6th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

English II46%-8 vs state

US History31%-7 vs state

Geometry31%-6 vs state

Biology I28%-17 vs state

Algebra II26%-9 vs state

English I24%-15 vs state

Algebra I20%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near McNairy Central High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Algebra I (2025)			TNReady Algebra II (2025)			TNReady Biology I (2025)				TNReady US History (2025)			TNReady English I (2025)		TNReady English II (2025)		TNReady Geometry (2025)			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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McNairy Central High School	Public	9-12	493 High School Road	Selmer	38375	McNairy County	McNairy County	No	No	No	No	(731) 645-3226	713	60	11.8		612 (85.8%)	60 (8.4%)	25 (3.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.8%)	37.7	230^th of 389 public high schools	40.9%		45.7	195^th of 392 public high schools	50.3%	35	21.2		19.5		26.1	25.7	30.1			28.3	29.9	37.5	31.2	24.5	24.2	46.5	46.3	32.7		30.6	$12,073	$736	$10,758
Adamsville High School	Public	9-12	815 West Main	Adamsville	38310	McNairy County	McNairy County	No	No	No	No	(731) 439-4122	449	36	12.4		418 (93.1%)	12 (2.7%)	13 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	41.2	213^th of 389 public high schools	45.2%		43.1	210^th of 392 public high schools	46.4%	3	16.9		17.2	72.4	9.9	26.4	47.4	23.0		31.3	32.9		32.6	33.1	33.1	54.6	54.6	35.1		33.6	$12,646	$510	$11,607
Hardin County High School	Public	9-12	909 South Pickwick RD	Savannah	38372	Hardin County	Hardin County	No	No	No	No	(731) 925-3976	986	70	14.1		874 (88.6%)	37 (3.8%)	33 (3.3%)	8 (0.8%)	7 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (2.7%)	62.2	112^th of 389 public high schools	71.2%		58.6	127^th of 392 public high schools	67.6%	15	26.9		23.8		40.9	40.2	65.4	27.0	12.9	37.9	47.7		46.9	34.2	33.2	54.8	53.5	49.7		45.4	$12,233	$602	$10,950
Chester County High School	Public	9-12	552 East Main ST	Henderson	38340	Chester County	Chester County	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 989-8125	809	52	15.7		629 (77.8%)	114 (14.1%)	37 (4.6%)	6 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.6%)	71.2	73^rd of 389 public high schools	81.2%		78.3	47^th of 392 public high schools	88.0%	26	20.4	7.1	19.6	94.4	44.3	48.4	57.7	50.6	30.0	50.5	63.3		62.3	44.8	44.9	62.4	62.4	45.5	5.0	41.0	$10,883	$546	$9,837

Frequently Asked Questions about McNairy Central High School

What schools feed into McNairy Central High School?

McNairy Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bethel Springs Elementary
Elementary : Ramer Elementary
Elementary : Selmer Elementary
Middle : Selmer Middle School

What is the racial makeup of McNairy Central High School?

Students at McNairy Central High School are 84% White, 10% African American, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is McNairy Central High School in?

McNairy County

How many students attend McNairy Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 673 students attended McNairy Central High School.

Is McNairy Central High School a good school?

McNairy Central High School ranks 230^th of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate McNairy Central High School!

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Schools in Selmer, TN

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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.