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Average

#1362 of 1,786 schools in TN

Smith County Middle School

Middle School · Smith County

134 Smith County Middle School LN, Carthage, TN 37030

Enrollment

313

Student-Teacher

16.5:1

Score

5.2

Grades

5th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Tennessee schools

#1,362 of 1,786

In Carthage

#5 of 5

public schools

In district

#9 of 9

Smith County

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Smith County Middle School

5.2/10

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

Carthage Elementary

7.3/10

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

Smith County High School

6.7/10

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

About Smith County Middle School

Smith County Middle School is a public middle school in Carthage, TN, part of Smith County. Smith County Middle School serves approximately 313 students, and covers grades 5th-8th, and has a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Smith County Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,362 of 1,786 schools in TN.

Structured state assessment records for Smith County Middle School show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.8 pts below TN schools
  • This school 5.2 · Average
  • TN avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

Smith County Middle School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.62 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.8Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency37.7% (2025 TCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency33% (2025 TCAP)
Math vs. State Avg-1.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-7.8 pts
Overall Proficiency35% (2025 TCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2025 TCAP)
vs. Expected-7.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile41th
Resources & Environment4.9Below Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,329
Chronic Absenteeism15%

Smith County Middle School — Students at Smith County Middle School score 35% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores TN TCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 40.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.2% (2025 TCAP)
ELA Proficiency 41.4% (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

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
40%
ELA
58%
2010
Math
44%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2012
Math
50%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
48%
ELA
54%
2014
Math
50%
ELA
50%
2015
Math
24.5%
ELA
24.5%
2016
Math
38%
ELA
32%
2017
Math
52%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
41%
ELA
33%
2019
Math
41%
ELA
33%
2020*
Math
30%
ELA
24%
2021*
Math
30%
ELA
24%
2022
Math
30.6%
ELA
39.7%
2025
Math
37.7%
ELA
33%

* 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: 4.9/10.

How Smith County Middle School Compares

See how Smith County Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.2/10
24th percentile in TN
Academic
5.8/10
Average
Growth
4.9/10
Below Average
Environment
4.9/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
19 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.0%

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

134 Smith County Middle School LN, Carthage, TN 37030

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Smith County Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Watertown Middle School (rated 8.0/10, 13.9 miles away, in nearby Watertown), which scores notably higher. Another option is Jim Satterfield Middle School (rated 7.6/10, 16.6 miles away, in nearby Hartsville), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Macon County Junior High School (rated 5.3/10, 18.9 miles away, in nearby Lafayette), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Carthage, see our Carthage schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 19.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Carthage Elementary Carthage 1.7 mi 7.3
Smith County High School Carthage 1.9 mi 6.7
Gordonsville Elementary School Gordonsville 3.9 mi 6.6
Gordonsville High School Gordonsville 3.9 mi 6.3
New Middleton Elementary Gordonsville 4.6 mi 7.5
Forks River Elementary Elmwood 4.4 mi 6.8
Defeated Elementary Carthage 7.6 mi 8.8
Union Heights Elementary Carthage 6.6 mi 6.4
Watertown High School Watertown 13.5 mi 5.3
DeKalb West Elementary Liberty 15.5 mi 6.9
Tuckers Crossroads Elementary Lebanon 12.9 mi 7.0
Watertown Middle School Watertown 13.9 mi 8.0
Watertown Elementary Watertown 14.3 mi 7.9
Trousdale Co Elementary Hartsville 15.3 mi 7.8
Jim Satterfield Middle School Hartsville 16.6 mi 7.6
De Kalb County Adult High School Smithville 18.4 mi
DeKalb Middle School Smithville 18.5 mi 5.0
De Kalb County High School Smithville 18.6 mi 4.2
Macon County Junior High School Lafayette 18.9 mi 5.3
Macon County High School Lafayette 19.2 mi 5.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 37030 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$57,510

Median Home Value

$226,000

Median Rent

$918/mo

Population

7,889

College Educated

19.7%

Homeownership

71.2%

Avg Commute

31.8 min

Poverty Rate

14.8%

Median Age

43.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bolivar Middle School Bolivar, TN 5.2
Haywood Middle School Brownsville, TN 5.2
Livingston Middle School Livingston, TN 5.1
Power Center Academy Middle - Southeast Memphis, TN 5.1
H. G. Hill Middle Nashville, TN 5.0
Jackson Central Merry Middle School Jackson, TN 5.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Smith County Middle School

What grades does Smith County Middle School serve?

Smith County Middle School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend Smith County Middle School?

Smith County Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 313 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Smith County Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Smith County Middle School is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Smith County Middle School rank in TN?

Smith County Middle School ranks #1,362 of 1,786 schools in TN.

What is Smith County Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Smith County Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 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 Smith County Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Smith County Middle School has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Smith County Middle School a charter school?

No, Smith County Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Smith County Middle School a Title I school?

No, Smith County Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
16 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
313
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Smith County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.0%

District

Smith County
District Enrollment
3,033
Schools in District
9
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,329
District Rank
#9 of 9

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