Southwestern Middle School

Q: Is Southwestern Middle School a good school?

Southwestern Middle School ranks 331 st of 485 Indiana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Southwestern Middle School is a public middle school located in Hanover, Indiana, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 275 students. The school is part of the Southwestern-Jefferson County Con school district, which is ranked 220 out of 381 districts in Indiana and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southwestern Middle School faces significant challenges compared to nearby schools. The school has a significantly higher percentage of white students (90.18%) and consistently ranks in the bottom half of Indiana middle schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Academically, the school's performance is significantly lower than the state and district averages, with only 33.79% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 14.14% in math. The school also has high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 9.6% to 17.6%, and a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 53.77% to 63.27%.

In comparison, nearby schools like Scottsburg Middle School and Madison Consolidated Junior High School have significantly higher academic performance, higher school rankings, and lower chronic absenteeism rates. This suggests that Southwestern Middle School could benefit from learning from the practices and strategies of these higher-performing schools, particularly in addressing the academic and socioeconomic challenges facing its students.

Detail:

Public 6-8

169 S Main Cross St
Hanover, IN 47243

(812) 866-6244

District: Southwestern-Jefferson County Con

SchoolDigger Rank:
331^st of 485 Indiana Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,171

Students who attend Southwestern Middle School usually attend:

High:

Southwestern High School

Feeder schools for Southwestern Middle School:

Elementary:

Southwestern Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.4

Number of students: 306

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.8%

Hispanic:

4.9%

Two or more races:

2.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 62.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Southwestern Middle School ranks worse than 68.2% of middle schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 33.06. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (90.8%), Hispanic (4.9%), two or more races (2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 62.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southwestern Middle School is 15.4. (See more...)

Compare Southwestern Middle School employs 19.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southwestern Middle School is $9,171.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Southwestern Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Southwestern Middle School 331^st of 485 Indiana public middle schools. (See Southwestern Middle School in the ranking list.)

Southwestern-Jefferson County Con:

SchoolDigger ranks Southwestern-Jefferson County Con 215^th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Southwestern Middle School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IN State Percentile
2015	40.95	330^th	485	32.0%
2016	36.84	362^nd	494	26.7%
2017	29.79	370^th	472	21.6%
2018	33.26	355^th	473	24.9%
2019	28.60	357^th	470	24.0%
2021	30.89	341^st	483	29.4%
2022	30.26	351^st	490	28.4%
2023	28.21	355^th	489	27.4%
2024	33.06	331^st	485	31.8%

See the entire list of Indiana Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Indiana Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Southwestern Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2013	281	2	1	6	0	4	294
2014	268	2	0	10	0	6	286
2015	285	3	0	6	0	9	303
2016	309	2	0	10	0	9	330
2017	308	2	0	12	0	13	335
2018	285	1	2	19	0	11	318
2019	263	2	2	20	1	8	296
2020	276	0	3	21	0	6	306
2021	277	0	1	19	1	7	305
2022	283	0	1	19	0	9	312
2023	248	2	0	19	0	6	275
2024	278	5	2	15	0	6	306

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Southwestern Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	294	24.0	12.2	49.7
2014	286	22.0	13.0	52.1
2015	303	24.0	12.6	52.8
2016	330	24.0	13.7	56.7
2017	335	25.0	13.4	56.7
2018	318	27.0	11.7	57.9
2019	296	24.0	12.3	55.7
2020	306	26.0	11.7	52.3
2021	305	26.0	11.7	53.8
2022	312	23.0	13.5	55.4
2023	275	23.5	11.7	63.3
2024	306	19.8	15.4	62.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Southwestern Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	294	24.0	12.2	49.7
2014	286	22.0	13.0	52.1
2015	303	24.0	12.6	52.8
2016	330	24.0	13.7	56.7
2017	335	25.0	13.4	56.7
2018	318	27.0	11.7	57.9
2019	296	24.0	12.3	55.7
2020	306	26.0	11.7	52.3
2021	305	26.0	11.7	53.8
2022	312	23.0	13.5	55.4
2023	275	23.5	11.7	63.3
2024	306	19.8	15.4	62.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Southwestern Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$19 (0.2%)	$7,884 (99.8%)	$7,902
2020	$25 (0.3%)	$8,136 (99.7%)	$8,162
2021	$567 (6.6%)	$8,010 (93.4%)	$8,577
2022	$1,172 (12.8%)	$7,999 (87.2%)	$9,171

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southwestern Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 357^th of 470 Middle schools	Ranks 355^th of 489 Middle schools	3.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Southwestern Middle School)	33.7	30.6	3.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Southwestern-Jefferson County Con)	33.7	30.6	3.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	47.8	40.8	7%
6th Grade Math (Southwestern Middle School)	14.7	20	5.3%
6th Grade Math (Southwestern-Jefferson County Con)	14.7	20	5.3%
6th Grade Math (Indiana)	46.4	38.3	8.1%
6th Grade Science (Southwestern Middle School)	43.2	23.5	19.7%
6th Grade Science (Southwestern-Jefferson County Con)	43.2	23.5	19.7%
6th Grade Science (Indiana)	48.6	38.2	10.4%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Southwestern Middle School)	28.6	23.7	4.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Southwestern-Jefferson County Con)	28.6	23.7	4.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	49.7	39.5	10.2%
7th Grade Math (Southwestern Middle School)	22.6	8.3	14.4%
7th Grade Math (Southwestern-Jefferson County Con)	22.6	8.3	14.4%
7th Grade Math (Indiana)	42	32.9	9.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Southwestern Middle School)	42.3	33.7	8.6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Southwestern-Jefferson County Con)	42.3	33.7	8.6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	50.7	43.8	6.9%
8th Grade Math (Southwestern Middle School)	34.6	17.9	16.7%
8th Grade Math (Southwestern-Jefferson County Con)	34.6	17.9	16.7%
8th Grade Math (Indiana)	38	31.4	6.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	296	275	7.1%
African American	2	2
American Indian	0	0
Asian	2	0	100%
Hispanic	20	19	5%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	263	248	5.7%
Two or More Races	8	6	25%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	55.7%	63.3%	7.5%

Schools Near Southwestern Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2024)					ILEARN Math (2024)					ILEARN Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ILEARN English Language Arts 5th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 6th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 7th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 8th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 5th Grade	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math 7th Grade	ILEARN Math 8th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southwestern Middle School	Public	6-8	169 S Main Cross St	Hanover	47243	Jefferson County	Southwestern-Jefferson County Con	No	No	No	No	(812) 866-6244	306	20	15.4	62.4%	278 (90.8%)	5 (1.6%)	15 (4.9%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	33.1	331^st of 485 public middle schools	31.8%		28.2	355^th of 489 public middle schools	27.4%	24		38.3	37.5	24.1	33.8		16.5	21.6	3.5	14.1		$9,171	$1,172	$7,999
Madison Consolidated Junior High School	Public	5-8	701 8th St	Madison	47250	Jefferson County	Madison Consolidated Schools	No	No	No	No	(812) 274-8003	688	46	14.8	51.7%	610 (88.7%)	12 (1.7%)	26 (3.8%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (4.9%)	75.1	110^th of 485 public middle schools	77.3%		66.2	150^th of 489 public middle schools	69.3%	40	41.2	51.5	47.3	61.4	50.9	43.1	41.5	29.3	42.3	39.1	39.9	$9,234	$1,006	$8,229
Scottsburg Middle School	Public	6-8	425 S 3rd St	Scottsburg	47170	Scott County	Scott County School District 2	No	No	No	No	(812) 752-8926	576	37	15.5	59.0%	531 (92.2%)	4 (0.7%)	26 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.3%)	65.5	164^th of 485 public middle schools	66.2%		59.9	184^th of 489 public middle schools	62.4%	20		36.0	44.7	50.0	43.2		43.4	33.2	35.0	37.3		$11,385	$1,195	$10,190
Austin Middle School	Public	6-8	401 S Hwy 31	Austin	47102	Scott County	Scott County School District 1	No	No	No	No	(812) 794-8740	248	13	19.8	49.2%	228 (91.9%)	2 (0.8%)	8 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	9 (3.6%)	20.4	382^nd of 485 public middle schools	21.2%		27.5	357^th of 489 public middle schools	27.0%	25		21.7	24.4	28.4	24.9		10.8	12.8	8.0	10.4		$9,180	$1,572	$7,608

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern Middle School

What high school do graduates of Southwestern Middle School attend?

Students who attend Southwestern Middle School usually go on to attend Southwestern High School

What district is Southwestern Middle School in?

Southwestern-Jefferson County Con

What is the racial makeup of Southwestern Middle School?

Students at Southwestern Middle School are 91% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% African American.

How many students attend Southwestern Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 306 students attended Southwestern Middle School.

Is Southwestern Middle School a good school?

Southwestern Middle School ranks 331^st of 485 Indiana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Indiana Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.