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Smith County Middle School

Q: Is Smith County Middle School a good school?

Smith County Middle School ranks 284 th of 583 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

284^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 583 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 51% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Smith County Middle School is a public middle school located in Carthage, Tennessee, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 313 students. The school is part of the Smith County School District, which is ranked 37 out of 139 districts in Tennessee and is rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Smith County Middle School has consistently ranked in the top half of Tennessee middle schools over the past several years, with rankings ranging from 147 to 355 out of 500-600 schools. The school's performance on TNReady assessments is generally below the state and county averages, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics. However, the school performs better in Science and Social Studies, with proficiency rates often exceeding the state and county averages. The school's chronic absenteeism rates have fluctuated, ranging from 10.8% to 20.2% over the past few years, which is an area of concern as it is generally higher than the state and county averages.

Compared to nearby middle schools, such as DeKalb Middle School, Macon County Junior High School, and Jackson County Middle School, Smith County Middle School's performance is generally on par with or slightly below. However, the school performs significantly better than Upperman Middle School (Putnam County) and Walter J. Baird Middle School (Lebanon) in terms of student proficiency rates. Jim Satterfield Middle School (Trousdale County) stands out as a high-performing school, consistently outperforming Smith County Middle School and the state averages across all subject areas.

289

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,297

Per pupil spending ?

62.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

134 Smith County Middle School
Carthage, TN 37030

(615) 735-8277

District: Smith County

Students who attend Smith County Middle School usually attend:

High:	Gordonsville High School
	Smith County High School

Feeder schools for Smith County Middle School:

Elementary:	Carthage Elementary
	Defeated Elementary
	Forks River Elementary
	Gordonsville Elementary School
	More...
	New Middleton Elementary
	Union Heights Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.3%

Hispanic:

9.7%

Two or more races:

5.2%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare Smith County Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 68th percentile in 2014 → 51st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Tennessee median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 17 percentile points since 2014

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg47%

Tennessee avg43%

284^th of 583

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 49%▲ up 6 pts since 2015

From bottom 46% (2015) to top 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

37^th of 139Smith 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	49.2	284 of 583	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.9	355 of 587	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.4	228 of 594	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.3	200 of 569	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.9	239 of 576	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.5	207 of 574	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.4	147 of 563	73.9%	★★★★☆
2017	47.9	198 of 362	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	52.4	268 of 492	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	63.5	155 of 485	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	68.6	152 of 475	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	87.3	41 of 466	91.2%	★★★★★
2011	78.8	84 of 462	81.8%	★★★★☆
2010	78.8	77 of 435	82.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	77.0	48 of 318	84.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	53.3	244 of 546	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.9	364 of 554	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.2	265 of 560	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.0	230 of 552	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.0	255 of 538	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.7	155 of 529	70.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	73.7	58 of 286	79.7%	★★★★☆
2023	83.8	31 of 285	89.1%	★★★★☆
2019	80.7	27 of 228	88.2%	★★★★☆
2018	63.6	60 of 219	72.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	58.9	157 of 490	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	25.6	403 of 510	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.2	268 of 514	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.5	178 of 495	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.7	243 of 483	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.7	134 of 490	72.7%	★★★★☆
2018	68.2	81 of 481	83.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	43.1	312 of 550	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.3	313 of 560	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.0	192 of 557	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.2	177 of 540	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.0	207 of 529	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.6	242 of 523	53.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	22.9	281 of 332	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.2	197 of 299	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.9	236 of 288	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	58.3	50 of 260	80.8%	★★★★☆
2019	31.2	165 of 222	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	59.1	50 of 279	82.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	38.6	300 of 492	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.9	365 of 504	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	46.3	255 of 503	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.2	234 of 500	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.9	244 of 496	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.3	250 of 484	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.5	175 of 481	63.6%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2024)85th percentile+45 vs school

Hispanic (2025)80th percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)68th percentile+17 vs school

Female (2025)55th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)43rd percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)39th percentile-12 vs school

Special Education (2025)15th percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Science48%~ state avg

Social Studies40%-9 vs state

Mathematics38%-4 vs state

English Language Arts32%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Smith County Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)						TNReady English Language Arts (2025)						TNReady Algebra I (2025)		TNReady Science (2025)						TNReady Social Studies (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 Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	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 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	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
Smith County Middle School	Public	5-8	134 Smith County Middle School	Carthage	37030	Smith County	Smith County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 735-8277	313	20	15.6		257 (82.1%)	5 (1.6%)	25 (8.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.0%)	49.2	284^th of 583 public middle schools	51.3%		37.9	355^th of 587 public middle schools	39.5%	71		37.9	54.0	33.8	28.2	38.0		30.8	55.6	28.4	16.9	32.2				65.2	58.7	44.6	28.2	48.5	57.1	45.9	19.7	40.4	$12,297	$1,022	$10,182
Watertown Middle School	Public	6-8	515 W. Main ST	Watertown	37184	Wilson County	Wilson County	No	No	No	No	(615) 237-4000	326	26	12.7		285 (87.4%)	5 (1.5%)	24 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.1%)	78.6	89^th of 583 public middle schools	84.7%		77.9	91^st of 587 public middle schools	84.5%	2			54.0	52.2	54.5	53.6			43.0	43.5	30.8	38.5					59.0	57.6	56.4	57.6	57.0	67.4	70.1	65.0	$13,157	$414	$12,037
Jim Satterfield Middle School	Public	6-8	210 Damascus AVE	Hartsville	37074	Trousdale County	Trousdale County	No	No	No	No	(615) 374-2748	328	21	15.7		256 (78.0%)	27 (8.2%)	29 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.6%)	83	68^th of 583 public middle schools	88.3%		83.2	70^th of 587 public middle schools	88.1%	2			54.2	60.4	68.9	60.9			45.8	42.3	46.2	44.9					57.5	62.5	66.0	61.8	53.3	68.8	59.4	59.9	$11,561	$360	$10,117
Upperman Middle School	Public	5-8	6700 Nashville HWY	Baxter	38544	Putnam County	Putnam County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 858-6601	847	54	15.8		748 (88.3%)	21 (2.5%)	57 (6.7%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	16 (1.9%)	43.6	329^th of 583 public middle schools	43.6%		43	325^th of 587 public middle schools	44.6%	4		52.9	52.9	32.4	45.5	46.2		34.3	36.1	25.4	16.4	28.3	91.7	91.7		41.2	48.7	36.8	37.4	40.9	33.0	30.9	33.3	32.4	$11,592	$909	$10,038
DeKalb Middle School	Public	6-8	1132 West Broad ST	Smithville	37166	DeKalb County	DeKalb County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 597-7987	558	38	14.8		407 (72.9%)	11 (2.0%)	116 (20.8%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.4%)	32.8	401^st of 583 public middle schools	31.2%		34.4	383^rd of 587 public middle schools	34.8%	18			24.0	37.8	26.4	29.2			27.4	26.8	19.1	24.4					25.7	34.8	25.8	28.6	28.5	55.8	36.5	39.8	$12,342	$2,061	$9,313
Macon County Junior High School	Public	6-8	1003 Hwy 52 By Pass East	Lafayette	37083	Macon County	Macon County	No	No	No	No	(615) 666-7545	771	41	19.0		616 (79.9%)	2 (0.3%)	138 (17.9%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.3%)	49.9	281^st of 583 public middle schools	51.8%		56.3	226^th of 587 public middle schools	61.5%	55			40.2	32.0	39.2	37.1			36.1	27.9	19.8	28.0					46.5	44.7	31.5	41.0	46.1	48.8	56.5	50.3	$11,203	$684	$9,781
Jackson County Middle School	Public	4-8	170 Blue Devil LN	Gainesboro	38562	Jackson County	Jackson County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 268-9779	434	30	14.3		406 (93.5%)	2 (0.5%)	13 (3.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	52.3	253^rd of 583 public middle schools	56.6%		47.9	291^st of 587 public middle schools	50.4%	38	27.9	28.6	27.5	27.1	26.1	27.4	32.8	38.1	41.3	22.6	40.0	34.6			42.6	36.5	50.0	45.9	52.2	45.8	50.0	54.1	43.5	49.6	$12,741	$1,123	$10,674
Walter J. Baird Middle School	Public	6-8	131 W J B Pride LN	Lebanon	37087	Wilson County	Lebanon	No	No	No	No	(615) 444-2190	698	37	19.0		380 (54.4%)	136 (19.5%)	127 (18.2%)	9 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (6.3%)	61.2	195^th of 583 public middle schools	66.6%		57.3	221^st of 587 public middle schools	62.4%	26			40.9	34.7	25.3	34.2			44.3	38.0	31.8	38.2	92.0	93.1			48.5	55.3	49.3	51.3	43.6	56.7	53.0	51.4	$10,690	$342	$9,789

Frequently Asked Questions about Smith County Middle School

How many students attend Smith County Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 289 students attended Smith County Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Smith County Middle School attend?

Students who attend Smith County Middle School usually go on to attend Gordonsville High School

What is the racial makeup of Smith County Middle School?

Students at Smith County Middle School are 81% White, 10% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 3% African American.

Is Smith County Middle School a good school?

Smith County Middle School ranks 284^th of 583 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Smith County Middle School in?

Smith County

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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.