Summary:
Schools in zip code 38052 serve the Middleton, Tennessee area and include just two public schools—Middleton High School (grades 7–12, 410 students) and Middleton Elementary School (grades PK–6, 349 students)—both part of Hardeman County Schools, a district ranked near the bottom of Tennessee.
Families comparing the two schools will notice very different trajectories. Middleton High School is on a steady upward climb: its state rank improved for three straight years, reaching the 19th percentile in 2025–2026, while test scores rose across math, ELA, science, and social studies. It also boasts a strong 92.5% graduation rate, above both the district and state, and its English II proficiency (45.9%) is a clear bright spot. However, the high school struggles with chronic absenteeism (24.0% vs. 18.3% statewide) and very low proficiency in Algebra I (11.9%) and English I (12.7%). Middleton Elementary School, by contrast, slipped dramatically in 2025–2026 after improving the prior year. Its state rank fell from the 41st percentile to the 20th, with proficiency dropping in every subject. The most alarming decline is in Social Studies, which plummeted from 43.6% to just 9.4%—over 40 points below the state average. That said, the elementary school still posts a better chronic absenteeism rate (17.5%) than both the district and state, and its overall math and ELA scores, while low, remain competitive with the district.
Both schools spend close to $15,000 per student, but academic outcomes are uneven. The high school consistently outperforms its district in science, social studies, U.S. history, and English II, while the elementary school outperforms the district in ELA and absenteeism. For parents, the takeaway is that Middleton High School appears to be gaining momentum, while Middleton Elementary School faces a developing challenge—especially in social studies—that may need attention before students transition to the improving high school.
Thank you for your feedback!