Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 37160

There is one middle school in zip code 37160: Harris Middle School in Shelbyville, Tennessee, which serves grades 6–8 and enrolls 977 students as part of Bedford County Schools. The school’s overall academic performance is well below district and state averages, with proficiency rates trailing Tennessee by 25 to 30 percentage points in math, English, science, and social studies. In the most recent year, only 14.5% of students were proficient in math and 14.9% in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 43% and 40.6%. The school ranks in the 11th percentile of Tennessee middle schools, earning a 1-star rating, though this is a slight improvement from the prior year’s 7th percentile.

The clearest bright spot is Algebra I, where Harris Middle School posted a 50% proficiency rate—more than double the district rate of 21.7% and well above the state’s 29.4%. This likely reflects a select group of advanced 8th-grade students rather than overall math strength, especially since 8th-grade general math proficiency is only 11.1%. Academic performance also tends to decline as students progress: 8th-grade reading proficiency is just 10.1%, meaning fewer than 1 in 10 eighth graders are proficient. Social studies results are inconsistent across grades, with 7th graders at 32.2% proficiency but 6th graders at only 13.3%, a 19-point swing that suggests uneven instruction or student grouping.

Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern, with 22.5% of students missing significant school—higher than the county’s 17.9% and the state’s 18.3%. This likely contributes to the low test scores and widening learning gaps by 8th grade. Per-student spending is $10,844, though no comparison data is available. Important context is missing: free/reduced-price lunch eligibility and student–teacher ratio are not reported, so poverty levels and class sizes cannot be assessed. Overall, Harris Middle School shows urgent opportunities for improvement in core subjects, attendance, and support for older students, while the Algebra I success demonstrates that strong outcomes are possible for some learners.