Summary:
Zip code 38375, located in rural west Tennessee, is home to a single middle school: Selmer Middle School, part of McNairy County Schools, serving 197 students in grades 6 through 8. Since it is the only middle school in the area, all analysis focuses on how Selmer Middle compares to its district and the state of Tennessee. The school ranks 261 out of 594 Tennessee middle schools, placing it in the 56th percentile with a 3-star rating—a notably stronger standing than its district, which ranks in the 35th percentile statewide.
Academically, Selmer Middle School shows a mixed profile. Science stands out as the strongest subject, with 50% of students proficient—outpacing both the district (45.8%) and the state (46.9%). Social Studies follows at 48% proficiency, though it trails the district by 4.7 points. Math (37.6%) and English Language Arts (34.2%) both sit below state averages. The most dramatic concern is 8th grade ELA, where only 16.4% of students are proficient, less than half the state rate of 32.3%. A clear grade-level pattern emerges: 6th graders outperform state averages in every subject, but proficiency steadily declines through 7th and 8th grades across all four subjects.
Attendance is a major bright spot: Selmer Middle's chronic absenteeism rate is just 9.5%, roughly half the state average of 18.3% and well below the district's 16.8%. Year-over-year results show slight declines in Math (-1.1 points), ELA (-0.9), and Science (-1.0), with modest improvement in Social Studies (+0.8). The school's ranking improved from the 51st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 60th percentile in 2024-2025, before settling at the 56th percentile in 2025-2026. Per-student spending is reported at $16,099. Families should appreciate the strong 6th grade performance, science instruction, and excellent attendance, while being aware that 8th graders—especially in reading—will need additional support to finish middle school strong.
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