Summary:
Zip code 37318 is home to one middle school, South Middle School, which serves 361 students in grades 6–8 in Cowan, Tennessee, as part of Franklin County Schools. As the only middle school in the area, South Middle School's profile defines the zone, and it sits within a district ranked 109th out of 141 districts in Tennessee, placing it in the bottom quarter statewide. The school has earned a 1-star rating for three consecutive years and consistently ranks in the 23rd–26th percentile among Tennessee middle schools, mirroring its district's overall standing.
Academically, South Middle School trails state averages in every tested subject. In 2025–2026, proficiency rates were 19.5% in mathematics, 23.7% in English language arts, 38.2% in science, and 27.7% in social studies, compared to state averages of 43.0%, 40.6%, 46.9%, and 51.4%, respectively. However, there are bright spots. Sixth grade science (42.3% proficient) and sixth grade ELA (32.3%) both exceed district averages, while 8th grade mathematics (26.4%) also outperforms the district. Science is the school's relative strength, improving by 6.5 points year-over-year, while social studies fell sharply by 7.5 points and mathematics declined by 4.4 points.
The 7th grade stands out as a particular concern, with mathematics proficiency at just 12.8% and ELA at 19.4%, reflecting a sharp drop from 6th grade. Chronic absenteeism sits at 17.4%, above the district's 15.1% but below the state's 18.3%. Per-student spending is $12,796, though resources do not currently translate into above-average outcomes. In short, South Middle School is a low-performing school with targeted opportunities for improvement in 7th grade mathematics and ELA, continued investment in science, and renewed attention to social studies.
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