Rutherford schools sweep rankings of best Midstate schools

By GRAYSON LEE MAXWELL

Rutherford County Schools

 

Rutherford County Schools offer the top schools in elementary, middle and high in the Midstate area, according to the most recent rankings of schools released by Nashville Business Journal.

 

Rankings were calculated based on standardized test performance, and schools were assigned a performance score relative to the overall raw score of the top performing school, according to the publication.

 

The rankings listed the top 25 schools for elementary, middle and high, and several Rutherford schools earned a spot. McFadden School of Excellence was named the best elementary school, and Central Magnet School earned the top spot at both the middle and high school levels.

 

Following a full list of the Rutherford schools that made the top 25:

 

Elementary:

McFadden School of Excellence – Ranked 1/25 – Principal Clark Blair

Thurman Francis Arts Academy – Ranked 5/25 – Principal Jeff McCann

 

Middle:

Central Magnet School – Ranked 1/25 – Principal John Ash

Thurman Francis Arts Academy – Ranked 3/25 – Principal Jeff McCann

Eagleville School – Ranked 20/25 – Principal Tim Pedigo

Stewarts Creek – Ranked 22/25 – Principal Letoni Murry

 

High:

Central Magnet School – Ranked 1/25 – Principal John Ash

Eagleville School – Ranked 16/25 – Principal Tim Pedigo

Siegel High School – Ranked 17/25 – Principal Larry Creasy

Stewarts Creek High School – Ranked 18/25 – Principal Clark Harrell

Oakland High School – Ranked 22/25 – Principal John Marshall

Blackman High School – Ranked 23/25 – Principal Leisa Justus

 

Rankings were determined from 2018, 2019 and 2021 test scores obtained by the Tennessee Department of Education for Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson and Williamson counties. Heavier weight was given to math and English, and to scores from more recent years.

 

Additionally, Rutherford County schools highly ranked on the list of schools which were most improved in test scores between 2019 and 2021, with Oakland and Eagleville high schools being the most improved, Whitworth-Buchanan as the second most improved middle school, and Thurman-Francis and Eagleville ranking among the topmost improved elementary schools.

 

This data was originally compiled by Carol Smith for Nashville Business Journal. She can be reached at [email protected].