Summary:
Zip code 37208 in Nashville, Tennessee is home to one middle school, John Early Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 as part of Metro Nashville Public Schools. With only 136 students enrolled, John Early is the sole middle school in this area, so all comparisons are made against district and state averages rather than nearby schools.
John Early Middle School faces significant academic challenges. It ranks 554th out of 594 Tennessee middle schools, placing it in the 7th percentile with a 0-star rating. Proficiency rates are far below district and state levels: math proficiency is just 9.1% (district 32.4%, state 43.0%), ELA is 13.3% (district 31.8%, state 40.6%), science is 16.5% (district 35.4%, state 46.9%), and social studies is 16.5% (district 42.1%, state 51.4%). Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 42.0% of students chronically absent—nearly double the district rate of 23.3% and more than double the state rate of 18.3%. The school spends a very high $29,546 per student, yet outcomes remain low, raising questions about how resources are being used.
There are some encouraging signs. The school’s state ranking has improved for three consecutive years, from the 2nd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 7th percentile in 2025–2026. By subject and grade, 8th grade science stands out as a relative strength at 24.2% proficiency, close to the district’s 8th grade rate of 27.3%. By contrast, 8th grade math is the weakest area at just 6.7% proficiency. However, with roughly 45 students per grade, these percentages represent only a handful of students, so grade-to-grade differences should be interpreted cautiously. John Early remains a high-need, low-performing school with a slow but positive trajectory. Reducing chronic absenteeism and supporting math achievement will be critical for continued improvement.
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