Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 37887

Zip code 37887, located in the Wartburg area of Morgan County, Tennessee, is home to one middle school: Central Middle School, which serves 317 students in grades 5–8. The school is part of the Morgan County Schools district, one of the lowest-performing districts in the state, ranking 132 out of 141 districts with a 0-star rating. Despite this challenging district context, Central Middle School has improved its own state ranking over the past two years, moving from the 17th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 28th percentile in 2025–2026, though it remains a 1-star school.

Academically, Central Middle School performs below state averages in all four tested subjects. Only 28.1% of students are proficient in math, 16.3% in English Language Arts, 31.3% in science, and 35.9% in social studies, compared to state averages of 43.0%, 40.6%, 46.9%, and 51.4%, respectively. However, the school's 6th grade stands out as a remarkable bright spot, outperforming both the district and the state in math (59.1% vs. 40.1% state), science (54.5% vs. 48.0% state), and social studies (53.0% vs. 50.7% state). In stark contrast, 5th grade math is a major concern, with only 8.5% of students proficient against a 47.4% state average — a staggering 38.9-point gap. English Language Arts is a systemic weakness across all grades, with no grade level exceeding 22% proficiency.

The school also faces significant challenges outside the classroom. Chronic absenteeism affected 38.7% of students in 2023–2024, more than double the state average of 18.3%, which likely contributes to lower achievement. Per-pupil spending is $10,716 annually. On a positive note, the school is trending in the right direction, posting substantial year-over-year gains in social studies (+15.6 points) and science (+6.1 points) between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. The standout 6th grade cohort suggests that effective teaching and targeted interventions are possible, and replicating those practices across other grade levels could help Central Middle School continue its upward trajectory.