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Joe Shafer Middle School

Q: Is Joe Shafer Middle School a good school?

Joe Shafer Middle School ranks 372 nd of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

372^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 594 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 37% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Joe Shafer Middle School serves approximately 670 students in grades 6–8 in Gallatin, TN, and is part of Sumner County Schools, one of Tennessee's stronger districts. Despite that district advantage, the school has declined significantly over the past six years: in 2018–2019 it ranked in the 78th percentile statewide with 4 stars, but today it sits at 372nd out of 594 Tennessee middle schools (37th percentile, 2 stars). Academic proficiency trails the district by roughly 20–24 percentage points in every subject. Math proficiency is 36% versus 58.8% districtwide, and ELA is just 27.2% compared to the district's 51.1% — a gap that makes reading and literacy the school's most urgent concern.

What makes this especially striking is that Joe Shafer Middle School sits in a cluster of high-performing middle schools. Nearby Liberty Creek Middle School, Station Camp Middle School, T.W. Hunter Middle School, and Robert E Ellis Middle School all rate 5 stars, while Knox Doss Middle School rates 4 stars. Only Rucker Stewart Middle School, located about 2.8 miles away, performs at a similarly low level, with both schools posting proficiency rates in the 20s and 30s. There is also a troubling grade-level pattern: 8th grade science proficiency is just 25% versus the district's 56.8%, and 8th grade math is 31% versus 62.1% districtwide, suggesting cumulative learning gaps by the end of middle school.

There are some encouraging signs. Chronic absenteeism has improved from 19.1% in 2022–2023 to 14.8% in 2024–2025, and social studies is a relative strength at 41% proficiency. The school also spends $12,359 per student, in line with or above several nearby higher-performing schools, indicating funding alone does not explain the performance gap. Subgroup data shows the most significant challenges are for students from low-income households and those in special education, both ranking in the bottom quarter of Tennessee schools. For parents weighing middle school options, the school's declining trajectory and the wide gap between Joe Shafer and its highest-performing neighbors are important factors to consider.

670

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,359

Per pupil spending ?

54.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

240 Albert Gallatin Boulevard
Gallatin, TN 37066

(615) 452-9100

District: Sumner County Schools

Students who attend Joe Shafer Middle School usually attend:

High:

Gallatin Senior High School

Feeder schools for Joe Shafer Middle School:

Elementary:	Benny C. Bills Elementary School
	Vena Stuart Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

53.4%

African American:

21.0%

Hispanic:

19.1%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare Joe Shafer Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 55th percentile in 2015 → 37th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (35% vs 45% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg57%

Tennessee avg45%

372^nd of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 10 pts since 2017

From bottom 48% (2017) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 12Middle Schools in the Sumner County Schools

33^rd of 141Sumner County Schools 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
2026	39.3	372 of 594	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.5	368 of 583	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.2	335 of 587	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.3	251 of 594	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	202 of 569	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.9	242 of 576	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.5	129 of 574	77.5%	★★★★☆
2018	62.4	161 of 563	71.4%	★★★★☆
2017	48.6	190 of 362	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	58.1	223 of 492	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.0	269 of 485	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	50.3	294 of 475	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.8	344 of 466	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.9	380 of 462	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	28.8	347 of 435	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	30.5	224 of 328	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.9	213 of 312	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.1	195 of 318	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.4	161 of 316	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.5	156 of 299	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.7	177 of 277	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.4	148 of 293	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.2	140 of 284	50.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	30.4	399 of 546	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.4	334 of 554	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.0	248 of 560	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.4	184 of 552	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.2	213 of 538	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.9	98 of 529	81.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	35.3	196 of 302	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.1	170 of 286	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.2	198 of 285	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.8	133 of 285	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.2	158 of 275	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.7	156 of 261	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.6	75 of 228	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.0	86 of 219	60.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	27.0	373 of 478	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.8	381 of 490	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.6	364 of 510	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.0	270 of 514	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.6	255 of 495	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.7	313 of 483	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.9	81 of 490	83.5%	★★★★☆
2018	65.8	103 of 481	78.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	44.3	299 of 550	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.7	321 of 560	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.6	245 of 557	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.9	220 of 540	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.4	251 of 529	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.9	169 of 523	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	27.8	270 of 349	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.0	188 of 332	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.0	216 of 299	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.1	179 of 288	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.6	152 of 260	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.0	53 of 238	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	43.8	106 of 222	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.3	112 of 279	59.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	43.6	271 of 494	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.9	279 of 492	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.3	263 of 504	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.8	180 of 503	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.8	125 of 500	75.0%	★★★★☆
2021	59.1	158 of 496	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.7	82 of 484	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	70.8	101 of 481	79.0%	★★★★☆

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)46th percentile+9 vs school

White (2026)45th percentile+8 vs school

Hispanic (2026)35th percentile~ school

African American (2026)32nd percentile-6 vs school

Female (2025)27th percentile-10 vs school

Special Education (2026)23rd percentile-15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)22nd percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies41%-10 vs state

Mathematics36%-7 vs state

Science36%-11 vs state

English Language Arts27%-13 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 18, 2016

When my son started here in the 6th grade, he was in advanced classes--mostly A's some B's. His grades slipped from year to year, with teachers not teaching him. With lower grades, in 8th grade he was put in regular classes and that is when the bullying amplified.

The principal is unfair and inconsistent with discipline--though he proudly claims otherwise! My son was assaulted and no one knew about it. No adults in the halls. Only when he reported it, did they see it on tape. No one was watching the video in real time. When it was shown that my son defended himself (defined as appropriate in the student handbook), the principal punishes my son by sending him to ISS for protecting himself. The assailant was carried off in handcuffs.

In hindsight, I wish I had pulled my child from this hole. Any communication I had with the leaders here fell on deaf ears. They destroyed his spirit, and I really blame the principal--he had a major role in it. Close Quote

Schools Near Joe Shafer 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 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	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2020)	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 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
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	54.8%	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
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	61.3%	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
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	13.6%	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
Liberty Creek Middle School	Public	6-8	200 Wolfpack Way	Gallatin	37066	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(615) 206-3506	601	39	15.2		479 (79.7%)	43 (7.2%)	36 (6.0%)	15 (2.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.2%)	94.9	24^th of 594 public middle schools	96.0%		94.4	26^th of 583 public middle schools	95.5%	2	86.4	74.6	81.4	81.0	67.2	53.8	59.7	60.5	76.0	68.4	72.3	72.4	72.8	73.3	72.7	72.9	$11,314	$241	$10,590
Knox Doss Middle School at Drakes Creek	Public	6-8	1338 Drakes Creek Road	Hendersonville	37075	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 824-8383	587	39	15.0	34.2%	360 (61.3%)	52 (8.9%)	132 (22.5%)	15 (2.6%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (4.3%)	77.8	92^nd of 594 public middle schools	84.5%		81.3	77^th of 583 public middle schools	86.8%	15	63.1	55.1	63.6	60.5	49.0	39.1	42.8	43.6	54.8	55.6	55.4	55.3	61.6	65.5	49.2	58.9	$12,087	$538	$11,028
T. W. Hunter Middle School	Public	6-8	2101 New Hope Road	Hendersonville	37075	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 822-4720	570	37	15.2	18.9%	416 (73.0%)	77 (13.5%)	37 (6.5%)	13 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	22 (3.9%)	98.2	7^th of 594 public middle schools	98.8%		99.1	2^nd of 583 public middle schools	99.7%	5	84.8	88.2	87.1	86.7	77.6	59.2	68.5	68.7	83.6	77.0	71.9	77.4	87.3	86.8	88.2	87.5	$12,999	$344	$12,133
Robert E Ellis Middle School	Public	6-8	100 Indian Lake Road	Hendersonville	37075	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 264-6093	556	42	13.2	18.2%	459 (82.6%)	40 (7.2%)	40 (7.2%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.6%)	94.5	27^th of 594 public middle schools	95.5%		95.3	20^th of 583 public middle schools	96.6%	7	62.9	79.2	79.4	72.7	64.8	63.6	60.6	63.2	67.1	75.8	69.4	70.4	73.3	83.8	67.5	74.6	$12,951	$241	$12,206
Portland East Middle School	Public	6-8	604 South Broadway	Portland	37148	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 325-4146	406	30	13.7	60.0%	303 (74.6%)	20 (4.9%)	64 (15.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (4.2%)	67.4	163^rd of 594 public middle schools	72.6%		60.5	199^th of 583 public middle schools	65.9%	36	43.1	38.1	57.3	46.4	45.0	44.9	33.1	40.7	51.4	43.2	54.8	49.9	55.0	59.3	55.6	56.7	$14,511	$612	$13,079
Portland West Middle School	Public	6-8	110 Nolan Private Drive	Portland	37148	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 325-8066	495	38	13.0	56.7%	379 (76.6%)	27 (5.5%)	68 (13.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	18 (3.6%)	64.1	185^th of 594 public middle schools	68.9%		54.8	234^th of 583 public middle schools	59.9%	49	45.0	41.4	58.6	47.9	48.3	36.4	46.4	43.5	49.7	37.7	52.9	46.3	51.0	49.4	50.0	50.1	$13,754	$469	$12,582
V G Hawkins Middle School	Public	6-8	487 A. Walton Ferry Road	Hendersonville	37075	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 824-3456	433	33	13.3	35.4%	276 (63.7%)	51 (11.8%)	75 (17.3%)	14 (3.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.0%)	69.8	148^th of 594 public middle schools	75.1%		73.6	121^st of 583 public middle schools	79.2%	27	59.8	52.8	47.8	53.3	47.5	36.6	31.6	38.4	63.9	48.0	38.8	49.9	65.6	61.0	53.0	59.6	$14,110	$241	$13,176

Frequently Asked Questions about Joe Shafer Middle School

What high school do graduates of Joe Shafer Middle School attend?

Students who attend Joe Shafer Middle School usually go on to attend Gallatin Senior High School

What district is Joe Shafer Middle School in?

Sumner County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Joe Shafer Middle School?

Students at Joe Shafer Middle School are 53% White, 21% African American, 19% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

Is Joe Shafer Middle School a good school?

Joe Shafer Middle School ranks 372^nd of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Joe Shafer Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 670 students attended Joe Shafer Middle School.

Rate Joe Shafer Middle School!

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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.