South Marshall Middle

Q: Is South Marshall Middle a good school?

South Marshall Middle ranks 200 th of 324 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

South Marshall Middle is a public middle school located in Benton, Kentucky, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 462 students. The school is part of the Marshall County School District, which is ranked 89 out of 159 districts in Kentucky and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

South Marshall Middle has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Kentucky middle schools, ranking between 181-251 out of 320-335 schools over the past 5 years. The school's rankings for specific student subgroups, such as female, male, and white students, are also in the bottom half of Kentucky middle schools. Additionally, South Marshall Middle's proficiency rates on the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) are generally lower than the Marshall County and state averages across various subjects and grade levels. The school has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 53-55% over the past 3 years.

When compared to other nearby middle schools, such as North Marshall Middle School, Mayfield Middle School, and Murray Middle School, South Marshall Middle generally performs worse on key metrics. However, the school's ranking has improved slightly over the past 5 years, moving from a 1-star to a 2-star rating, suggesting that the school may be making some progress, but still has significant room for improvement to reach the performance levels of its higher-ranked peers.

Detail:

Public 6-8

2211 US 641 South
Benton, KY 42025

(270) 527-3828

District: Marshall County

SchoolDigger Rank:
200^th of 324 Kentucky Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,676

Student/teacher ratio: 15.6

Number of students: 457

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.2%

Hispanic:

4.4%

Two or more races:

3.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 63%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details South Marshall Middle ranks worse than 61.7% of middle schools in Kentucky. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 38.46. (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 (91.2%), Hispanic (4.4%), two or more races (3.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 63% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Marshall Middle is 15.6. (See more...)

Compare South Marshall Middle employs 29.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Marshall Middle is $12,676.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Marshall Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks South Marshall Middle 200^th of 324 Kentucky public middle schools. (See South Marshall Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Marshall County:

SchoolDigger ranks Marshall County 89^th of 159 Kentucky school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for South Marshall Middle

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Rank History for all students at South Marshall Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2019	32.22	251^st	335	25.1%
2021	34.24	183^rd	282	35.1%
2022	40.44	185^th	320	42.2%
2023	42.37	181^st	327	44.6%
2024	38.46	200^th	324	38.3%

See the entire list of Kentucky Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at South Marshall Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	29.60	231^st	294	21.4%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Marshall Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2019	27.67	246^th	303	18.8%
2021	36.39	131^st	224	41.5%
2022	42.11	168^th	310	45.8%
2023	48.88	145^th	309	53.1%
2024	44.96	159^th	311	48.9%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Marshall Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2019	34.41	221^st	299	26.1%
2021	35.90	151^st	233	35.2%
2022	44.00	158^th	299	47.2%
2023	40.87	179^th	295	39.3%
2024	40.27	176^th	300	41.3%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at South Marshall Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	31.49	170^th	226	24.8%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at South Marshall Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	45.87	47^th	62	24.2%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Marshall Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2019	24.34	257^th	303	15.2%
2021	30.53	156^th	222	29.7%
2022	33.59	204^th	304	32.9%
2023	42.03	167^th	307	45.6%
2024	35.15	196^th	304	35.5%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at South Marshall Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2019	24.32	220^th	266	17.3%
2021	35.66	132^nd	213	38.0%
2022	34.60	212^th	314	32.5%
2023	36.74	204^th	320	36.3%
2024	33.20	218^th	316	31.0%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Middle Schools for White Students!

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

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

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Enrollment information for South Marshall Middle

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2017	494	1	3	16	1	0	5	520
2018	525	2	4	15	0	0	6	552
2019	492	2	5	8	0	0	6	513
2020	484	2	3	7	0	0	8	504
2021	441	1	3	9	0	0	16	470
2022	455	0	0	10	0	0	12	477
2023	425	1	2	16	1	1	16	462
2024	417	1	3	20	0	1	15	457

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 South Marshall Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	520	27.5	18.8	46.2
2018	552	29.2	18.9	50.4
2019	513	29.1	17.6	51.5
2020	504	28.2	17.8	54.8
2021	470	26.2	17.9	54.9
2022	477	29.1	16.3	53
2023	462	29.0	15.9	55
2024	457	29.1	15.6	63

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 South Marshall Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	520	27.5	18.8	46.2
2018	552	29.2	18.9	50.4
2019	513	29.1	17.6	51.5
2020	504	28.2	17.8	54.8
2021	470	26.2	17.9	54.9
2022	477	29.1	16.3	53
2023	462	29.0	15.9	55
2024	457	29.1	15.6	63

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 South Marshall Middle

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$498 (3.3%)	$43 (0.3%)	$573 (3.8%)	$7,878 (51.9%)	$1,807 (11.9%)	$9,689 (63.9%)	$15,165
2020	$514 (4.1%)	$58 (0.5%)	$624 (5.0%)	$7,999 (64.4%)	$1,913 (15.4%)	$9,913 (79.8%)	$12,418
2021	$423 (3.7%)	$636 (5.6%)	$1,058 (9.2%)	$7,690 (67.2%)	$1,329 (11.6%)	$9,020 (78.8%)	$11,440
2022	$892 (7.0%)	$497 (3.9%)	$1,389 (11.0%)	$8,276 (65.3%)	$1,799 (14.2%)	$10,074 (79.5%)	$12,676

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Marshall Middle

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 251^st of 335 Middle schools	Ranks 181^st of 327 Middle schools	19.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	513	462	9.9%
African American	2	1	50%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	5	2	60%
Hispanic	8	16	100%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	492	425	13.6%
Two or More Races	6	16	166.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	51.5%	55%	3.5%

Schools Near South Marshall Middle

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				KSA Mathematics (2024)					KSA Reading (2024)					KSA Science (2024)		KSA Writing (2024)		KSA Social Studies (2024)		KSA Editing and Mechanics (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	KSA Mathematics 4th Grade	KSA Mathematics 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
South Marshall Middle	Public	6-8	2211 US 641 South	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 527-3828	457	29	15.6	63.0%	417 (91.2%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.4%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.3%)	38.5	200^th of 324 public middle schools	38.3%		42.4	181^st of 327 public middle schools	44.6%	19			36.0	29.0	37.0			41.0	42.0	37.0		23.0		47.0		31.0		56.0	$12,676	$892	$497	$1,389	$8,276	$1,799	$10,074
North Marshall Middle School	Public	6-8	3111 U. S. Hwy 95	Calvert City	42029	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 395-7108	493	31	16.0	52.5%	462 (93.7%)	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (2.8%)	79.4	45^th of 324 public middle schools	86.1%		65.8	87^th of 327 public middle schools	73.4%	42			42.0	51.0	45.0			60.0	62.0	62.0		34.0		76.0		60.0		64.0	$12,988	$1,140	$458	$1,597	$8,394	$1,791	$10,187
Calloway County Middle School	Public	6-8	2112 College Farm Rd	Murray	42071	Calloway County	Calloway County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 762-7355	637	40	15.8	57.6%	547 (85.9%)	13 (2.0%)	41 (6.4%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (4.9%)	77	49^th of 324 public middle schools	84.9%		72	64^th of 327 public middle schools	80.4%	15			59.0	53.0	46.0			61.0	49.0	50.0		36.0		77.0		43.0		64.0	$16,987	$1,122	$977	$2,098	$8,069	$2,030	$10,099
Murray Middle School	Public	4-8	801 Main St	Murray	42071	Calloway County	Murray Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 753-5125	669	44	15.0	51.7%	503 (75.2%)	38 (5.7%)	59 (8.8%)	19 (2.8%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	48 (7.2%)	87.2	22^nd of 324 public middle schools	93.2%		94.7	9^th of 327 public middle schools	97.2%	13	63.0	69.0	56.0	60.0	68.0	62.0	69.0	62.0	62.0	61.0	49.0	37.0	73.0	72.0	60.0	55.0	73.0	63.0	$26,442	$2,665	$1,032	$3,697	$17,119	$1,538	$19,446
Mayfield Middle School	Public	5-8	112 W College St	Mayfield	42066	Graves County	Mayfield Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 247-7521	527	34	15.7	73.8%	212 (40.2%)	60 (11.4%)	193 (36.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	58 (11.0%)	55.8	124^th of 324 public middle schools	61.7%		58.9	119^th of 327 public middle schools	63.6%	5		25.0	47.0	47.0	50.0		40.0	49.0	49.0	33.0			52.0	56.0	28.0	34.0	44.0	54.0	$22,834	$2,432	$2,638	$5,070	$17,286	$5,057	$22,343
Graves County Middle School	Public	7-8	625 Jimtown Rd	Mayfield	42066	Graves County	Graves County	No	No	No	No	(270) 328-4890	562	34	16.5	55.2%	472 (84.0%)	9 (1.6%)	41 (7.3%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.4%)	73.3	62^nd of 324 public middle schools	80.9%		70.8	67^th of 327 public middle schools	79.5%	5				44.0	51.0				64.0	58.0		21.0		64.0		54.0		56.0	$11,500	$716	$1,120	$1,837	$7,502	$1,228	$8,730
Reidland Middle School	Public	6-8	5351 Benton Rd	Paducah	42003	McCracken County	McCracken County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 538-4190	320	21	15.1	70.0%	249 (77.8%)	18 (5.6%)	27 (8.4%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.9%)	73.2	63^rd of 324 public middle schools	80.6%		66.2	84^th of 327 public middle schools	74.3%	21			68.0	43.0	54.0			60.0	54.0	42.0				60.0		45.0		63.0	$15,588	$979	$531	$1,455	$10,764	$2,514	$13,279

Frequently Asked Questions about South Marshall Middle

Is South Marshall Middle a good school?

South Marshall Middle ranks 200^th of 324 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend South Marshall Middle?

In the 2023-24 school year, 457 students attended South Marshall Middle.

What is the racial makeup of South Marshall Middle?

Students at South Marshall Middle are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is South Marshall Middle in?

Marshall County

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