Murfreesboro, Rutherford County Schools Rank Among Top Performers Statewide
Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools enjoy a reputation as top-performing school districts.
With Blue Ribbon schools, National Title I schools, top rankings statewide, teachers of the year, swelling enrollment and straight A’s on their academic report cards, it’s no wonder Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools enjoy reputations as top performers.
Adding to the accolades, the Rutherford County Board of Education was named School Board of the Year in 2013 by the Tennessee School Boards Association, thanks to its effective policies, long-range planning and response to tremendous enrollment growth.
Five private schools in the area have also seen marked growth and achievement.
Furthermore, deep ties to Middle Tennessee State University draw quality teachers and provide access to unique resources.
One of Rutherford County’s newest schools is Central Magnet School, a competitive college-preparatory middle and high school that opened in 2010 in historic downtown Murfreesboro.
“Rutherford County wanted something for its higher-achieving students, and Central Magnet School allows us to focus on their needs,” says Dr. John Ash, who serves as principal.
In partnership with MTSU, Central Magnet and Discovery School will be the first to participate in an exchange agreement with Dongcheng Education Group in Hangzhou, China, to promote learning and collaboration across cultures.
Such exposure is critical, says Dr. Linda Gilbert, director of Murfreesboro City Schools, which rolled out a technology initiative in 2014 that puts one laptop or iPad for every two students in all its classrooms.
“The idea is to prepare students for the workforce,” Gilbert says. “We can’t say we’re doing that unless they have the technology, skills and experience they’re going to need.”
