Harris Middle School is located in Shelbyville, Tennessee, the county seat of Bedford County. Shelbyville is recognized nationwide for its Tennessee Walking Horse, pencil industries, and girls' basketball.
Our school is one of the four schools serving the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders of Bedford County; however, it is unique in that it is the only middle school. The average enrollment of the school is 770, making it the largest feeder school of Shelbyville Central High School.
Harris Middle School's history dates back to 1965. In the school year, 1967-1968, Ralph McBride was the principal of the county junior high and Don Shelton served as the principal of the city junior high. Both junior high schools occupied one building. The county and city systems were consolidated in 1968. The present location of Harris Middle School served as Central High School until the spring of 1977. The renovated building then opened in 1980 as Sydney W. Harris Middle School serving sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The school was renamed in memory of a prominent, black Bedford County educator named Sidney Harris.
Written by an HMS student