Summary:
Zip code 38301 in Jackson, TN is home to two public middle schools serving grades 6-8: Jackson Central Merry Middle School and West-Bemis Middle School, both part of the Jackson-Madison County Schools district, which ranks in the bottom 5% of Tennessee districts. The two schools, however, present vastly different pictures of academic performance, attendance, and resources.
West-Bemis is the clear standout in the area. It ranks 425th out of 594 Tennessee middle schools (28th percentile) with a 1-star rating, while Jackson Central Merry ranks 573rd (4th percentile) with 0 stars. On TNReady tests, West-Bemis beats its district average in every subject: 29.1% proficient in math, 28.0% in ELA, 33.0% in science, and 33.2% in social studies. Jackson Central Merry lags far behind, with proficiency in the single digits for math (6.5%), ELA (8.5%), and science (7.4%), and only 15.0% in social studies. In fact, West-Bemis math and science proficiency is roughly 4.5 times higher than Jackson Central Merry's. Chronic absenteeism also paints a stark contrast: 48.0% at Jackson Central Merry versus 23.1% at West-Bemis, compared to the state average of 18.3%.
Despite being the stronger school, West-Bemis still trails Tennessee state averages by 11 to 18 points in most subjects, though its 8th grade science proficiency (42.0%) nearly matches the state (44.3%). Jackson Central Merry is severely below its own district, let alone the state, indicating systemic challenges. Per-pupil spending also differs: West-Bemis spends $13,912 per student, about $2,857 more than Jackson Central Merry's $11,055. Year-over-year, Jackson Central Merry improved in ELA, science, and social studies, while West-Bemis slipped in three of four subjects. Both schools face headwinds from a low-ranked district, but the data suggests West-Bemis is better positioned to support student success.
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