Summary:
Bells, Tennessee is served by a single elementary school, Bells Elementary School, which enrolls 407 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Bells City Schools district — a small, one-school district where the school’s performance directly determines the district’s rating.
For parents, the most important story is a notable recent decline. In 2023–2024, Bells Elementary was a 4-star school ranked in the 72nd percentile, but by 2025–2026 it had fallen to a 2-star rating at the 47th percentile. Math proficiency dropped sharply by 16.8 percentage points in one year (from 57.9% to 41.1%), and ELA and science also fell while state averages rose, meaning the school is losing ground relative to Tennessee as a whole. That said, performance varies significantly by grade. The 4th grade is a clear bright spot, beating the state in math (57.8% vs. 49.4%), ELA (53.1% vs. 47.4%), and science (51.6% vs. 50.1%). In contrast, 5th grade is a serious concern, especially science at 29.2% proficiency — 17.3 points below the state average — and math at 33.3% versus 47.4% statewide. This suggests that upper-elementary students may need extra support before transitioning to middle school.
On a positive note, chronic absenteeism is remarkably low: the district rate is 3.7% versus 18.3% statewide, so attendance is not driving the academic slide. Per-student spending is $12,173, though without a state comparison it’s hard to judge. The school’s overall math, ELA, and science proficiency rates (41.1%, 41.7%, and 43.4%) are near state averages, with ELA slightly above. For parents, the key takeaway is that Bells Elementary has strong grade-level strengths, excellent attendance, and a recent history of higher performance — but the sharp decline in 5th grade, particularly in math and science, warrants immediate attention from the district.
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