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Needs Improvement

#1717 of 1,786 schools in TN

E. A. Cox Middle School

Middle School · Maury County

633 Bear Creek PIKE, Columbia, TN 38401

Enrollment

652

Student-Teacher

14.5:1

Score

3.4

Grades

5th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Tennessee schools

#1,717 of 1,786

In Columbia

#10 of 12

public schools

In district

#21 of 23

Maury County

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E. A. Cox Middle School

3.4/10

Middle School in Columbia · grades 5th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

R Howell Elementary

4.2/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Agathos Classical School

6.6/10

3.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About E. A. Cox Middle School

E. A. Cox Middle School is a public middle school in Columbia, TN, part of Maury County.

E. A. Cox Middle School serves approximately 652 students, and covers grades 5th-8th, and has a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio.

E. A. Cox Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,717 of 1,786 schools in TN.

Structured state assessment records for E. A. Cox Middle School show 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.7 pts below district
  • This school 3.4 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 5.1
  • TN avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

34% of students at E. A. Cox Middle School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.8Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.99 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.0Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency11.4% (2025 TCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency13.9% (2025 TCAP)
Math vs. State Avg-27.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-26.9 pts
Overall Proficiency13% (2025 TCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2025 TCAP)
vs. Expected-30.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile5th
Resources & Environment4.6Below Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,129
Chronic Absenteeism33.9%

E. A. Cox Middle School — Students at E. A. Cox Middle School score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores TN TCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 15.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.2% (2025 TCAP)
ELA Proficiency 23.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
40.8% (2025 TCAP)

Based on 32 test records from TN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
13%
ELA
45%
2010
Math
21%
ELA
49%
2011
Math
29%
ELA
47%
2012
Math
20%
ELA
37%
2013
Math
25%
ELA
35%
2014
Math
29%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
24.5%
ELA
24.5%
2016
Math
8%
ELA
10%
2017
Math
6%
ELA
11%
2018
Math
9%
ELA
11%
2019
Math
9%
ELA
11%
2020*
Math
6%
ELA
7%
2021*
Math
6%
ELA
7%
2022
Math
7.6%
ELA
13.3%
2025
Math
11.4%
ELA
13.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.8/10.

How E. A. Cox Middle School Compares

See how E. A. Cox Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.4/10
4th percentile in TN
Academic
2.0/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
3.8/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
4.6/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
45 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
33.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

633 Bear Creek PIKE, Columbia, TN 38401

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering E. A. Cox Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Battle Creek Middle School (rated 7.2/10, 5.2 miles away, in nearby Spring Hill), which scores notably higher. Another option is Spring Hill Middle School (rated 5.5/10, 7.1 miles away, in nearby Spring Hill), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Whitthorne Middle School (rated 3.7/10, 6.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Columbia, see our Columbia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.9 mi
School Distance Rating
R Howell Elementary Columbia 0.3 mi 4.2
AGATHOS CLASSICAL SCHOOL Columbia 3.2 mi 6.6
Riverside Elementary Columbia 3.4 mi 5.4
Northfield Academy Columbia 3.8 mi 2.6
Virtual Academy of Maury County Columbia 3.8 mi 4.4
THE KINGS DAUGHTERS SCHOOL Columbia 4.1 mi 6.0
Highland Park Elementary Columbia 4.5 mi 7.2
Spring Hill High School Columbia 5.3 mi 4.5
CHRIST CHILDREN'S ACADEMY - SITE 1 Spring Hill 5.4 mi
THE KINGS DAUGHTERS SCHOOL-CFA CAMPUS Columbia 4.6 mi
Battle Creek Elementary School Spring Hill 5.3 mi 8.6
Battle Creek Middle School Spring Hill 5.2 mi 7.2
COLUMBIA ACADEMY Columbia 5.0 mi 4.2
J. Brown Elementary Columbia 5.5 mi 7.1
Spring Hill Middle School Spring Hill 7.1 mi 5.5
J. R. Baker Elementary Columbia 6.0 mi 8.2
Columbia Central High School Columbia 6.1 mi 2.9
Whitthorne Middle School Columbia 6.2 mi 3.7
COLUMBIA ACADEMY AT SPRING HILL Spring Hill 7.9 mi 4.0
Spring Hill Elementary Spring Hill 7.9 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 38401 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$69,467

Median Home Value

$295,200

Median Rent

$1,084/mo

Population

66,696

College Educated

24.4%

Homeownership

71.8%

Avg Commute

28.3 min

Poverty Rate

11.8%

Median Age

39

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Goodlettsville Middle Goodlettsville, TN 3.4
Power Center Academy Middle Memphis, TN 3.4
Waverly Jr High School Waverly, TN 3.4
Bellevue Middle Memphis, TN 3.5
Hickory Ridge Middle Memphis, TN 3.5
Jasper Middle School Jasper, TN 3.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about E. A. Cox Middle School

What grades does E. A. Cox Middle School serve?

E. A. Cox Middle School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend E. A. Cox Middle School?

E. A. Cox Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 652 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at E. A. Cox Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at E. A. Cox Middle School is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does E. A. Cox Middle School rank in TN?

E. A. Cox Middle School ranks #1,717 of 1,786 schools in TN.

What is E. A. Cox Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

E. A. Cox Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 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 E. A. Cox Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, E. A. Cox Middle School has 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is E. A. Cox Middle School a charter school?

No, E. A. Cox Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is E. A. Cox Middle School a Title I school?

No, E. A. Cox Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
6 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
8 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
652
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
45
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Maury County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
33.9%

District

Maury County
District Enrollment
13,084
Schools in District
23
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,129
District Rank
#21 of 23

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