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The Discovery School

Q: Is The Discovery School a good school?

The Discovery School ranks 179 th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

179^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,009 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 82% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

The Discovery School is an elementary school located in Dickson, Tennessee, serving 225 students in grades K-5. It is part of the Dickson County School District, which is ranked 35 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

The Discovery School consistently outperforms the Dickson County and Tennessee state averages in proficiency rates for TNReady assessments in Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Science across all grade levels. For the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates are 53.1% in Mathematics, 61.5% in English Language Arts, and 59.4% in Science, compared to Dickson County's 43.1%, 44.2%, and 55.2%, respectively, and Tennessee's 42.2%, 38.9%, and 46.1%. The school's performance is particularly strong in 4th grade, where proficiency rates reach 75% in English Language Arts and 68.8% in Science. However, the school's performance for Low Socioeconomic Status (SES) students has been more variable, ranging from a high of 4 stars out of 5 in 2023-2024 to a low of 2 stars in 2022-2023.

The Discovery School outperforms most of the nearby schools in the Dickson County district, including The Discovery School, Vanleer Elementary, White Bluff Elementary, Charlotte Elementary, and Oakmont Elementary, in terms of academic proficiency rates and statewide rankings. However, Centennial Elementary and Stuart Burns Elementary, which are also in the Dickson County district, perform at a similar or slightly higher level than The Discovery School in some academic areas.

202

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,713

Per pupil spending ?

44.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

101 Henslee DR
Dickson, TN 37055

(615) 441-4163

District: Dickson County

Students who attend The Discovery School usually attend:

Middle:	Dickson Middle School
High:	Dickson County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

73.3%

Two or more races:

13.4%

Hispanic:

7.9%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare The Discovery School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 93rd percentile in 2014 → 82nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (58% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of Tennessee elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Dickson County

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school58%

District avg48%

Tennessee avg42%

179^th of 1,009

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 18%▼ down 9 pts since 2015

From top 9% (2015) to top 18% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 8Elementary Schools in the Dickson County

35^th of 139Dickson County among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	76.8	179 of 1009	82.3%	★★★★☆
2024	76.3	182 of 1018	82.1%	★★★★☆
2023	72.9	204 of 1020	80.0%	★★★★☆
2022	80.3	142 of 1000	85.8%	★★★★☆
2021	79.5	142 of 983	85.6%	★★★★☆
2019	88.0	98 of 985	90.1%	★★★★★
2018	85.2	108 of 997	89.2%	★★★★☆
2017	67.1	146 of 646	77.4%	★★★★☆
2015	87.3	74 of 855	91.3%	★★★★★
2014	85.4	58 of 853	93.2%	★★★★★
2013	90.8	40 of 846	95.3%	★★★★★
2012	57.7	370 of 820	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	97.7	21 of 818	97.4%	★★★★★
2010	77.7	169 of 809	79.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2023	64.5	136 of 500	72.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	70.7	227 of 986	77.0%	★★★★☆
2024	71.6	219 of 990	77.9%	★★★★☆
2023	60.2	328 of 989	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.6	169 of 975	82.7%	★★★★☆
2021	85.7	107 of 945	88.7%	★★★★☆
2019	83.9	113 of 926	87.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	59.9	264 of 843	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.8	112 of 853	86.9%	★★★★☆
2023	40.6	519 of 865	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	80.7	64 of 823	92.2%	★★★★★
2018	45.7	462 of 877	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	80.2	144 of 984	85.4%	★★★★☆
2024	76.2	173 of 991	82.5%	★★★★☆
2023	73.4	183 of 987	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	78.6	150 of 980	84.7%	★★★★☆
2021	62.7	260 of 941	72.4%	★★★★☆
2019	81.7	125 of 916	86.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	73.5	172 of 840	79.5%	★★★★☆
2024	70.7	195 of 847	77.0%	★★★★☆
2023	64.5	226 of 852	73.5%	★★★★☆
2022	67.2	202 of 844	76.1%	★★★★☆
2021	75.4	152 of 844	82.0%	★★★★☆
2019	87.4	94 of 812	88.4%	★★★★☆
2018	84.0	105 of 841	87.5%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2025)85th percentile+3 vs school

White (2025)80th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)77th percentile-5 vs school

African American (2023)73rd percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)69th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts62%+23 vs state

Science59%+13 vs state

Mathematics53%+11 vs state

4.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, April 23, 2015

Overall a shadow of the dynamic open education model that it once was as a project school when it started. Still miles above other schools in the district though. Very rigid and intense program now focused on test scores and performance..... not necessarily education.... Close Quote

Schools Near The Discovery School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)				TNReady English Language Arts (2025)				TNReady Science (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
The Discovery School	Public	K-5	101 Henslee DR	Dickson	37055	Dickson County	Dickson County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 441-4163	225	18	12.6		163 (72.4%)	8 (3.6%)	19 (8.4%)	7 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (12.4%)	76.8	179^th of 1009 public elementary schools	82.3%		76.3	182^nd of 1018 public elementary schools	82.1%	3	42.9	62.5	52.8	53.1	53.6	75.0	55.6	61.5	46.4	68.8	61.1	59.4	$14,713	$1,468	$12,579
Dickson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	120 W Broad ST	Dickson	37055	Dickson County	Dickson County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 740-5837	225	22	10.1		150 (66.7%)	10 (4.4%)	44 (19.6%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	19 (8.4%)	40.2	607^th of 1009 public elementary schools	39.8%		54.8	410^th of 1018 public elementary schools	59.7%	197	29.4	51.2	36.4	40.0	26.5	53.5	30.3	38.2	23.5	46.5	36.4	36.4	$16,716	$1,218	$14,285
Oakmont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	630 Hwy 46 South	Dickson	37055	Dickson County	Dickson County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 446-2435	482	42	11.4		306 (63.5%)	52 (10.8%)	56 (11.6%)	11 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (11.8%)	48.6	504^th of 1009 public elementary schools	50.0%		48.5	492^nd of 1018 public elementary schools	51.7%	12	28.6	56.9	41.9	42.6	38.1	50.8	42.9	44.0	28.6	43.1	48.4	40.0	$15,474	$1,461	$13,152
Centennial Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	198 Upper Lake DR	Dickson	37055	Dickson County	Dickson County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 446-0355	705	54	13.0		551 (78.2%)	29 (4.1%)	59 (8.4%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (8.8%)	70.4	233^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	76.9%		71.9	223^rd of 1018 public elementary schools	78.1%	10	35.4	45.7	66.7	48.2	49.6	56.7	67.6	57.4	42.1	69.5	72.5	60.1	$12,933	$1,096	$11,126
Stuart Burns Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3201 Highway 96	Burns	37029	Dickson County	Dickson County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 446-2791	717	49	14.5		580 (80.9%)	15 (2.1%)	73 (10.2%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.4%)	68.3	254^th of 1009 public elementary schools	74.8%		75	193^rd of 1018 public elementary schools	81.0%	61	42.9	43.8	69.9	52.4	50.8	58.3	48.2	52.1	52.1	56.7	49.6	52.6	$12,290	$979	$10,610
Charlotte Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Humphries ST	Charlotte	37036	Dickson County	Dickson County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 740-5803	591	48	12.3		510 (86.3%)	12 (2.0%)	31 (5.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.1%)	62.9	330^th of 1009 public elementary schools	67.3%		65.7	272^nd of 1018 public elementary schools	73.3%	58	34.4	46.6	37.4	39.7	47.3	59.2	51.1	52.8	52.7	61.2	52.7	55.7	$13,344	$1,338	$11,301
White Bluff Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	377 School RD	White Bluff	37187	Dickson County	Dickson County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 740-5775	483	41	11.9		416 (86.1%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (9.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.3%)	63.1	325^th of 1009 public elementary schools	67.8%		56.5	395^th of 1018 public elementary schools	61.2%	70	43.3	45.5	41.9	43.5	40.3	60.6	40.5	46.9	53.7	77.3	51.4	60.4	$14,196	$1,143	$12,260
East Hickman Intermediate School	Public	3-5	5198 East Eagle DR	Lyles	37098	Hickman County	Hickman County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 670-0227	366	23	16.2		329 (89.9%)	3 (0.8%)	24 (6.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.5%)	35.3	675^th of 1009 public elementary schools	33.1%		42.3	580^th of 1018 public elementary schools	43.0%	95	42.2	44.0	33.6	39.9	31.0	37.3	34.4	34.3	23.3	39.7	34.4	32.7	$13,315	$1,696	$10,607
East Hickman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	5191 Hwy 100	Lyles	37098	Hickman County	Hickman County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 670-3044	385	29	13.5		365 (94.8%)	4 (1.0%)	12 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)								(n/a)													$15,473	$2,146	$12,235
Vanleer Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4456 Highway 49 West	Vanleer	37181	Dickson County	Dickson County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 740-5760	264	20	13.0		237 (89.8%)	1 (0.4%)	7 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.2%)	42.7	572^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	43.3%		61.8	324^th of 1018 public elementary schools	68.2%	248	31.4	33.3	35.9	33.3	47.1	48.7	38.5	45.0	47.1	34.2	30.8	38.3	$14,931	$1,063	$12,874

Frequently Asked Questions about The Discovery School

What schools do graduates of The Discovery School attend?

Students who attend The Discovery School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Dickson Middle School
High : Dickson County High School

Is The Discovery School a good school?

The Discovery School ranks 179^th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of The Discovery School?

Students at The Discovery School are 73% White, 13% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

What district is The Discovery School in?

Dickson County

How many students attend The Discovery School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 202 students attended The Discovery School.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.