Average
#490 of 1,284 schools in KY
Top 38% in state
Southern Middle School
Middle School · Fayette County · Lexington, KY
A Fayette County middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
400 Wilson Downing Rd, Lexington, KY 40517
- Math 42% proficient (2025)
- Reading 53% proficient (2025)
- 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southern Middle School score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 KSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KY average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 14 points since 2020, reaching 47% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
53.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Southern Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 22Car-Dependent
- Transit 26Some Transit
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,541/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lexington), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$51,778
Median home value
$196,300
Median rent
$1,092/mo
College educated
41.3%
Homeownership
36.8%
Poverty rate
23.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 40517; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Provision SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | K–12 | 0.6 mi | 47 | Compare → |
| Kore AcademyPrivate · tuition | 8.5private | 1–12 | 1.1 mi | 53 | Compare → |
| Tates Creek Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | 6–8 | 1.7 mi | 737 | Compare → |
| Trinity Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | PK–12 | 1.9 mi | 438 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Fayette County
- Schools in district
- 79
- Rank in district
- #33 of 66
- District spending per student
- $18,318NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southern Middle School is listed in Fayette County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern Middle School
Southern Middle School is a public middle school in Lexington, KY, part of Fayette County, serving approximately 764 students in grades 6th-8th with a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #490 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern Middle School
What grades does Southern Middle School serve?
Southern Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Southern Middle School?
Southern Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 764 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Middle School is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern Middle School rank in KY?
Southern Middle School ranks #490 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is Southern Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Southern Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern Middle School has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southern Middle School a charter school?
No, Southern Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern Middle School a Title I school?
No, Southern Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern Middle School?
53.8% of students at Southern Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 764
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 56
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Fayette County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.2%
- Phone
- (859) 381-3582
- Area population (ZIP 40517)
- 36,396
- Area average commute
- 22.8 min
- Area median age
- 31
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 KSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 KSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 40517; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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