Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 49 schools in district

Joe Shafer Middle School

240 Albert Gallatin BLVD, Gallatin, TN 37066Sumner County
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
666
Students
Total enrolled
$11,062
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
23% vs nat'l
13.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
10% vs nat'l
40/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
20% vs nat'l
Mid-sized public school
Serves 666 students in grades 06–08 in Gallatin, Tennessee.
23% below average funding
District spends $11,062 per pupil, 23% 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

Joe Shafer Middle School is a large middle in Gallatin, Tennessee, serving grades 06–08 with 666 students. The district invests $11,062 per student — 23% below the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1.

Student Body & Demographics at Joe Shafer Middle School

666
Total Students
13.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Free Lunch
48
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0608) are served by this school
Gender Distribution322 male · 344 female
48%
52%
Male 48%Female 52%
Student Composition
61%
14%
20%
White61%
Hispanic / Latino14%
Black20%
Multiracial5%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 470402001213

Academic Outcomes at Joe Shafer 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 37066

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,062Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$11,062
State avg
$16,278
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$4,867
Student Support$2,102
Administration$1,327
Operations$1,659
Other$1,106
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $11,062 spent per student, an estimated $4,901 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
45%
42%
State government
45.2%
Local (property tax)
42.0%
Federal programs
12.8%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-average funding — $11,062/student, 23% less than the national average
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountySumner County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (615)452-9100
NCES ID: 470402001213
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Gallatin seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
240 Albert Gallatin BLVD, Gallatin, TN 37066
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.