Best Public Schools in Burns, TN

Burns, Tennessee is a small community with just two public schools — Stuart Burns Elementary School (PK–5, 706 students) and Burns Middle School (6–8, 494 students) — both part of Dickson County Schools, and no high school, so students leave town after 8th grade. Both are strong performers: Stuart Burns Elementary ranks 165th out of 1,019 Tennessee schools (84th percentile, 4 stars), while Burns Middle ranks 81st out of 594 (86th percentile, 4 stars). Both schools consistently land in the top 15–20% of the state.

Comparing the two, Stuart Burns Elementary School posts higher proficiency in every shared core subject. In 2025–2026, elementary students scored 57.8% in Math, 58.3% in ELA, and 63.6% in Science, versus 48.7%, 44.4%, and 61.9% at Burns Middle School. The elementary's 5th-grade math (69.5%) and 4th-grade science (74.1%) are standout scores. Burns Middle excels at advanced coursework — 89.7% of Algebra I students scored proficient, far above the state's 32.3% — and social studies (67.9% vs. 51.4% statewide).

Attendance is a major strength at both schools. Chronic absenteeism is just 8.8% at the elementary and 11.6% at the middle school, versus the state's 18.3%. Stuart Burns Elementary has risen from the 75th to the 84th percentile over two years, while Burns Middle slipped from a 5-star, 90th-percentile peak to its current 86th-percentile standing. Per-student spending is $12,290 at the elementary and $11,595 at the middle school. All told, Burns families have two reliable, high-achieving schools — one on the upswing and one still well above district and state averages.