Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 23 schools in district

Whitthorne Middle School

915 Lion PKWY, Columbia, TN 38401Maury County →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 05–08Non-Charter
932
Students
Total enrolled
$11,315
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 21% vs nat'l
16.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 9% vs nat'l
40/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 20% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 932 students in grades 05–08 in Columbia, Tennessee.
21% below average funding
District spends $11,315 per pupil, 21% less than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 40th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Whitthorne Middle School is a large middle in Columbia, Tennessee, serving grades 05–08 with 932 students. The district invests $11,315 per student — 21% below the national average of $14,347, with a 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm.

Student Body & Demographics at Whitthorne Middle School

932
Total Students
16.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
—
Free Lunch
56
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (05–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution443 male · 489 female
48%
52%
Male 48%Female 52%
Student Composition
51%
19%
23%
White51%
Hispanic / Latino19%
Black23%
Multiracial6%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 470276000982

Academic Outcomes at Whitthorne Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
40
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 40th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 28th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 38401

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,315Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$11,315
State avg
$16,278
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$4,979
Student Support$2,150
Administration$1,358
Operations$1,697
Other$1,132
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $11,315 spent per student, an estimated $5,013 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
42%
40%
State government
41.6%
Local (property tax)
40.4%
Federal programs
18.0%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-average funding — $11,315/student, 21% less than the national average
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
R Howell ElementaryMarvin Wright Elementary SchoolBattle Creek Elementary SchoolJ E Woodard Elementary
+6 more
↓
Middle
Battle Creek Middle SchoolE. A. Cox Middle SchoolSpring Hill Middle SchoolMt. Pleasant Middle Visual Perform. Arts
↓
High School
Columbia Central High SchoolSpring Hill High SchoolMt Pleasant High SchoolNorthfield Academy
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 08
Location—
CountyMaury County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictMaury County →
Phone: (931)388-2558
NCES ID: 470276000982
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Columbia seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Maury County
High
Columbia Central High School
1,474 students · 09–12
● 40 opp
High
Spring Hill High School
1,204 students · 09–12
● 40 opp
Other
Culleoka Unit School
937 students · PK–12
● 40 opp
Mid
Battle Creek Middle School
677 students · 05–08
Mid
E. A. Cox Middle School
656 students · 05–08
● 40 opp
Elem
R Howell Elementary
645 students · PK–04
● 40 opp
Elem
Marvin Wright Elementary School
629 students · PK–04
Elem
Battle Creek Elementary School
597 students · KG–04
District School Rankings
Location
915 Lion PKWY, Columbia, TN 38401
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.