Ok, while this may generate a lot of controversy, because any number of issues may be used to rank schools, we realize that and accept that premise. However, we are going to rank the Wilson County Middle Schools based on how well the students did on the 2009 TCAP Scores in 8th Grade by subject average. We are using this metric as a basis of how well prepared they are for High School.
School Name; 8th Grade NCE Average of Individual Test Scores added up and divided by 4 (Math, Reading/Language, Science, Social Studies).
Tuckers Crossroads: 55.8
Southside K-8: 52.6,
West Wilson Middle: 52.5,
Mt Juliet Middle: 51.5,
Carroll-Oakland K-8: 50.1
Watertown K-8: 47.7
Congrats to Tuckers Crossroads students and teachers. They were hand’s down winners of this ranking. Since the average for Tuckers was 3.2 points higher than second place Southside, I know where I would want to send my child if I had a choice and say in the matter.
High Scores by Subject
Math: Carroll-Oakland 55.7
Reading/Language: Tuckers Crossroads 57.4
Science: West Wilson 55.5
Social Studies: Tuckers Crossroads 61.3
Low Scores by Subject
Math: Watertown 45.7
Reading/Language: Watertown 48.6
Science: Carroll-Oakland 44.6
Social Studies: Watertown 44.4
Observations: Watertown needs help, in either teacher training, new administration, or better elementary grade preparations. Carroll-Oakland did well in Math, their other subjects are inadequate; the C-O score on Science was 6.1 points behind the next lowest score, and that is pathetic. Math and Science go hand in hand in high school and college. Pray for those kids in High School. Considering that Mt Juliet Middle and West Wilson Middle have the highest level of demographics as measured by family income, you would think their scores would be among the best. Instead they are in the middle of the pack. Kudos to Southside, they are doing a fine job. The biggest congratulations goes to Tuckers Crossroads. For a school with a primarily rural demographic, they are spanking the other schools and are doing so quietly and without the public recognition they deserve.
Conclusion: The far east of the county may be the best place to relocate to.
