Is McNairy Central High School a good school?

McNairy Central High School ranks 195 th of 392 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend McNairy Central High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 713 students attended McNairy Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of McNairy Central High School?

Students at McNairy Central High School are 86% White, 8% African American, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What schools feed into McNairy Central High School?

McNairy Central High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Bethel Springs Elementary Elementary : Ramer Elementary Elementary : Selmer Elementary Middle : Selmer Middle School

McNairy Central High School

Summary:

McNairy Central High School is a public high school located in Selmer, Tennessee, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 698. The school is part of the McNairy County School District, which is ranked 85 out of 139 districts in Tennessee and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While McNairy Central High School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (85.53%) compared to the state average, its academic performance, as measured by TNReady assessments, is generally below the state and county averages. The school's proficiency rates in subjects like Biology I, US History, English I, and Algebra I are lower than the state and county. Additionally, the school's performance varies across different student subgroups, with male and low socioeconomic status students performing better than female and special education students. Interestingly, the school's spending per student has increased over the years, from $7,844 in 2018-2019 to $9,704 in 2020-2021, which is higher than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Chester County High School, Hardin County High School, and Adamsville High School, McNairy Central High School generally performs worse academically, with lower proficiency rates in core subjects. The school's statewide ranking has also declined over the years, from a high of 130 out of 358 Tennessee high schools in 2021-2022 to 255 out of 374 in 2023-2024. These challenges, including racial achievement gaps and inconsistent performance across subject areas, suggest that the school and district leadership should prioritize addressing these issues to improve the overall academic outcomes for students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

493 High School Road
Selmer, TN 38375

(731) 645-3226

District: McNairy County

SchoolDigger Rank:
195^th of 392 Tennessee High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,214

Feeder schools for McNairy Central High School:

Elementary:	Bethel Springs Elementary
	Ramer Elementary
	Selmer Elementary
Middle:	Selmer Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.8

Number of students: 713

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.8%

African American:

8.4%

Hispanic:

3.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 99.6%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare McNairy Central High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details McNairy Central High School ranks better than 50.3% of high schools in Tennessee. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 45.73. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at McNairy Central High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

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 (85.8%), African American (8.4%), Hispanic (3.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at McNairy Central High School is 11.8. (See more...)

Compare McNairy Central High School employs 60.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at McNairy Central High School is $11,214.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

McNairy Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks McNairy Central High School 195^th of 392 Tennessee public high schools. (See McNairy Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

McNairy County:

SchoolDigger ranks McNairy County 74^th of 140 Tennessee school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for McNairy Central High School

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Rank History for all students at McNairy Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2010	61.68	113^th	267	57.7%
2011	70.37	72^nd	273	73.6%
2012	73.06	74^th	269	72.5%
2013	69.49	63^rd	285	77.9%
2014	42.96	198^th	296	33.1%
2015	45.04	211^th	300	29.7%
2016	41.07	219^th	351	37.6%
2017	14.59	261^st	273	4.4%
2018	32.00	245^th	341	28.2%
2019	45.98	160^th	342	53.2%
2021	41.13	190^th	347	45.2%
2022	52.88	130^th	358	63.7%
2023	49.15	158^th	384	58.9%
2024	45.73	195^th	392	50.3%

See the entire list of Tennessee High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at McNairy Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	23.32	148^th	159	6.9%
2019	60.08	32^nd	127	74.8%
2024	17.71	178^th	183	2.7%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McNairy Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	23.05	266^th	308	13.6%
2019	49.29	130^th	302	57.0%
2021	41.37	177^th	317	44.2%
2022	59.13	79^th	322	75.5%
2023	51.50	124^th	330	62.4%
2024	37.07	216^th	337	35.9%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at McNairy Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2019	45.34	168^th	337	50.1%
2021	40.95	190^th	340	44.1%
2022	54.39	123^rd	350	64.9%
2023	44.33	188^th	366	48.6%
2024	38.95	223^rd	365	38.9%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at McNairy Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2019	49.12	137^th	329	58.4%
2021	39.95	193^rd	332	41.9%
2022	53.75	121^st	349	65.3%
2023	52.14	142^nd	359	60.4%
2024	51.18	152^nd	366	58.5%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at McNairy Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	26.56	152^nd	199	23.6%
2019	41.80	90^th	187	51.9%
2021	21.39	175^th	208	15.9%
2022	23.80	178^th	222	19.8%
2023	21.35	197^th	239	17.6%
2024	32.35	148^th	240	38.3%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at McNairy Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TN State Percentile
2018	27.56	258^th	307	16.0%
2019	41.25	161^st	301	46.5%
2021	37.40	195^th	306	36.3%
2022	48.83	128^th	312	59.0%
2023	44.35	162^nd	325	50.2%
2024	38.62	189^th	326	42.0%

See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Tennessee 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: Tennessee Department of Education

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Enrollment information for McNairy Central High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	829	107	6	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	945
1989	773	111	6	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	890
1990	738	98	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	841
1991	745	96	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	843
1992	764	98	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	864
1993	804	98	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	906
1994	803	113	4	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	927
1995	739	111	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	853
1996	739	111	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	853
1997	732	101	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	-17	818
1998	732	76	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	811
1999	699	90	3	6	1	n/a	n/a	-1	798
2000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	819	819
2001	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	709	709
2002	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	727	727
2003	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	727	727
2004	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	753	753
2005	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	796	796
2006	714	113	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	832
2007	751	101	0	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	862
2008	767	89	0	7	1	n/a	n/a	0	864
2009	762	87	2	11	0	n/a	n/a	0	862
2010	751	85	3	16	0	n/a	n/a	0	855
2011	695	85	0	14	1	0	3	0	798
2012	693	73	0	14	1	0	3	0	784
2013	658	73	2	14	0	0	3	0	750
2014	666	75	2	15	0	0	2	0	760
2015	662	74	2	15	0	0	3	0	756
2016	671	81	5	16	0	0	5	0	778
2017	676	93	4	20	0	0	5	0	798
2018	662	97	5	23	0	0	6	0	793
2019	681	105	4	23	0	0	6	0	819
2020	694	93	4	22	1	0	5	0	819
2021	698	86	4	23	2	0	9	0	822
2022	638	78	4	25	2	0	9	0	756
2023	597	66	4	22	1	0	8	0	698
2024	612	60	2	25	1	0	13	0	713

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 McNairy Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	945	50.0	18.9	n/a
1989	890	47.0	18.9	n/a
1990	841	47.0	17.8	n/a
1991	843	49.0	17.2	n/a
1992	864	49.0	17.6	n/a
1993	906	49.0	18.5	n/a
1994	927	52.0	17.8	n/a
1995	853	54.0	15.8	n/a
1996	853	54.0	15.8	n/a
1997	818	n/a	0.0	n/a
1998	811	n/a	0.0	n/a
1999	798	n/a	0.0	n/a
2000	819	n/a	0.0	n/a
2001	709	n/a	0.0	n/a
2002	727	n/a	n/a	n/a
2003	727	n/a	n/a	n/a
2004	753	n/a	n/a	n/a
2005	796	n/a	n/a	n/a
2006	832	49.0	17.0	n/a
2007	862	53.3	16.2	44.9
2008	864	54.5	15.9	45.9
2009	862	55.4	15.6	47.6
2010	855	56.3	15.1	47.5
2011	798	59.9	13.3	56.3
2012	784	54.6	14.3	53.2
2013	750	55.0	13.6	61.2
2014	760	54.5	13.9	59.5
2015	756	55.0	13.7	58.9
2016	778	53.0	14.6	99.6
2017	798	56.1	14.2	n/a
2018	793	53.6	14.7	n/a
2019	819	51.6	15.8	n/a
2020	819	50.1	16.3	n/a
2021	822	56.6	14.5	n/a
2022	756	57.6	13.1	n/a
2023	698	56.1	12.4	n/a
2024	713	60.1	11.8	n/a

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 McNairy Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	945	50.0	18.9	n/a
1989	890	47.0	18.9	n/a
1990	841	47.0	17.8	n/a
1991	843	49.0	17.2	n/a
1992	864	49.0	17.6	n/a
1993	906	49.0	18.5	n/a
1994	927	52.0	17.8	n/a
1995	853	54.0	15.8	n/a
1996	853	54.0	15.8	n/a
1997	818	n/a	0.0	n/a
1998	811	n/a	0.0	n/a
1999	798	n/a	0.0	n/a
2000	819	n/a	0.0	n/a
2001	709	n/a	0.0	n/a
2002	727	n/a	n/a	n/a
2003	727	n/a	n/a	n/a
2004	753	n/a	n/a	n/a
2005	796	n/a	n/a	n/a
2006	832	49.0	17.0	n/a
2007	862	53.3	16.2	44.9
2008	864	54.5	15.9	45.9
2009	862	55.4	15.6	47.6
2010	855	56.3	15.1	47.5
2011	798	59.9	13.3	56.3
2012	784	54.6	14.3	53.2
2013	750	55.0	13.6	61.2
2014	760	54.5	13.9	59.5
2015	756	55.0	13.7	58.9
2016	778	53.0	14.6	99.6
2017	798	56.1	14.2	n/a
2018	793	53.6	14.7	n/a
2019	819	51.6	15.8	n/a
2020	819	50.1	16.3	n/a
2021	822	56.6	14.5	n/a
2022	756	57.6	13.1	n/a
2023	698	56.1	12.4	n/a
2024	713	60.1	11.8	n/a

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 McNairy Central High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$336 (4.3%)	$7,017 (89.5%)	$7,844
2020	$293 (3.7%)	$7,217 (90.7%)	$7,960
2021	$1,149 (11.8%)	$8,168 (84.2%)	$9,704
2022	$938 (9.5%)	$8,462 (85.8%)	$9,857
2023	$1,258 (11.2%)	$9,446 (84.2%)	$11,214

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on McNairy Central High 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 160^th of 342 High schools	Ranks 158^th of 384 High schools	5.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
9th Grade Algebra I (McNairy Central High School)	20.5	22.8	2.3%
9th Grade Algebra I (McNairy County)	18	20.1	2.1%
9th Grade Algebra I (Tennessee)	21.8	17.8	4%
9th Grade English I (McNairy Central High School)	27.7	31.5	3.8%
9th Grade English I (McNairy County)	31.7	32.3	0.6%
9th Grade English I (Tennessee)	33.3	36	2.7%
10th Grade English II (McNairy Central High School)	37.3	46.2	8.9%
10th Grade English II (McNairy County)	41.1	46.4	5.3%
10th Grade English II (Tennessee)	44	50.7	6.7%
10th Grade Geometry (McNairy Central High School)	35	37.3	2.3%
10th Grade Geometry (McNairy County)	32.6	33.3	0.7%
10th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)	28.2	23.8	4.4%
11th Grade Algebra II (McNairy Central High School)	26.2	24.8	1.4%
11th Grade Algebra II (McNairy County)	21.4	16.7	4.7%
11th Grade Algebra II (Tennessee)	17.7	16.8	0.9%
11th Grade US History (McNairy Central High School)	17.6	23.7	6.1%
11th Grade US History (McNairy County)	20.6	32.1	11.5%
11th Grade US History (Tennessee)	29.6	39.7	10.1%
12th Grade US History (McNairy Central High School)	16.7	23.5	6.8%
12th Grade US History (McNairy County)	21.1	28.9	7.8%
12th Grade US History (Tennessee)	27.8	35.4	7.6%
All Grades Algebra I (McNairy Central High School)	19.4	21.7	2.3%
All Grades Algebra I (McNairy County)	17.1	19.1	2%
All Grades Algebra I (Tennessee)	27.4	23.2	4.2%
All Grades Algebra II (McNairy Central High School)	27.9	25.7	2.2%
All Grades Algebra II (McNairy County)	23.8	20.9	2.9%
All Grades Algebra II (Tennessee)	27.4	25.6	1.8%
All Grades US History (McNairy Central High School)	17.5	23.6	6.1%
All Grades US History (McNairy County)	20.6	32.6	12%
All Grades US History (Tennessee)	28.6	38.5	9.9%
All Grades English I (McNairy Central High School)	27.7	31.5	3.8%
All Grades English I (McNairy County)	31.6	32.2	0.6%
All Grades English I (Tennessee)	32.7	35.4	2.7%
All Grades English II (McNairy Central High School)	37.4	45.9	8.5%
All Grades English II (McNairy County)	41	46.2	5.2%
All Grades English II (Tennessee)	42.7	49.4	6.7%
All Grades Geometry (McNairy Central High School)	30.6	35.4	4.8%
All Grades Geometry (McNairy County)	29.7	31.4	1.7%
All Grades Geometry (Tennessee)	33.9	28.6	5.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	819	698	14.8%
African American	105	66	37.1%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	4	4
Hispanic	23	22	4.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	681	597	12.3%
Two or More Races	6	8	33.3%

Schools Near McNairy Central High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				TNReady Algebra I (2024)		TNReady Algebra II (2024)			TNReady Biology I (2024)			TNReady US History (2024)			TNReady English I (2024)		TNReady English II (2024)		TNReady Geometry (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
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	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McNairy Central High School	Public	9-12	493 High School Road	Selmer	38375	McNairy County	McNairy County	No	No	No	No	(731) 645-3226	713	60	11.8		612 (85.8%)	60 (8.4%)	25 (3.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.8%)	45.7	195^th of 392 public high schools	50.3%		49.2	158^th of 384 public high schools	58.9%	37	23.7	22.6		30.9	33.1	36.1		35.8	27.0	14.3	24.8	33.9	33.3	45.6	45.1	38.0	34.1	$11,214	$1,259	$9,446
Adamsville High School	Public	9-12	815 West Main	Adamsville	38310	McNairy County	McNairy County	No	No	No	No	(731) 439-4122	449	36	12.4		418 (93.1%)	12 (2.7%)	13 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	43.1	210^th of 392 public high schools	46.4%		48.4	164^th of 384 public high schools	57.3%	46	29.7	28.9	61.9	11.4	22.1	63.6	27.0	41.8	51.2		50.6	25.2	24.8	40.4	40.4	21.8	21.8	$11,892	$1,110	$10,279
Hardin County High School	Public	9-12	909 South Pickwick RD	Savannah	38372	Hardin County	Hardin County	No	No	No	No	(731) 925-3976	986	70	14.1		874 (88.6%)	37 (3.8%)	33 (3.3%)	8 (0.8%)	7 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (2.7%)	58.6	127^th of 392 public high schools	67.6%		56.2	132^nd of 384 public high schools	65.6%	5	25.0	22.6		43.9	43.2	68.4	27.6	39.1	44.6	30.0	43.8	28.8	28.3	47.8	47.6	42.9	37.8	$11,096	$1,647	$8,870
Chester County High School	Public	9-12	552 East Main ST	Henderson	38340	Chester County	Chester County	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 989-8125	809	52	15.7		629 (77.8%)	114 (14.1%)	37 (4.6%)	6 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.6%)	78.3	47^th of 392 public high schools	88.0%		68.4	64^th of 384 public high schools	83.3%	17	23.3	21.0		38.0	39.4		60.0	59.0	66.3		65.3	39.6	39.6	64.8	64.8	52.2	50.5	$10,441	$1,277	$8,575

McNairy Central High School

McNairy Central High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

McNairy County:

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Rank History for McNairy Central High School

Rank History for all students at McNairy Central High School

Rank History for Special Education students at McNairy Central High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McNairy Central High School

Rank History for Female students at McNairy Central High School

Rank History for Male students at McNairy Central High School

Rank History for African American students at McNairy Central High School

Rank History for White students at McNairy Central High School

Enrollment information for McNairy Central High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at McNairy Central High School

Student/Teacher Ratio McNairy Central High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for McNairy Central High School

Impact of COVID-19 on McNairy Central High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near McNairy Central High School