Best Public Schools in Charleston, TN

Charleston, Tennessee, is served by a single public school, Charleston Elementary School, which enrolls 358 students in grades PK–5 as part of Bradley County Schools. This small elementary school is a solid performer overall, and parents will find several clear strengths alongside a few areas that deserve attention.

In the 2025-2026 school year, Charleston Elementary beat both its district and the state average in all three core subjects when looking at all grades combined: math proficiency reached 48.2% (compared to 44.6% district and 43.0% state), ELA reached 43.0% (versus 42.2% and 40.6%), and science led the way at 52.3% (versus 45.8% and 46.9%). The standout subject by grade is 5th-grade math, where 59.4% of students were proficient—8.5 points above the district and 12 points above the state. Science is strong in every grade, with the school outperforming the district in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. However, ELA is a consistent weak spot: at every grade level, Charleston Elementary trails the district average, with the largest gap in 5th grade (40.6% vs. 48.3%). Third-grade math is also a concern at 35.8% proficiency, below both the district (38.7%) and state (42.6%). The school’s state ranking has been somewhat volatile, jumping from the 62nd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 74th percentile in 2024-2025, then slipping back to the 60th percentile in 2025-2026, which mirrors an 11-point drop in math proficiency from the prior year.

One of the school’s most encouraging metrics is attendance: chronic absenteeism is just 12.3%, notably better than the district’s 14.9% and the state’s 18.3%. The school spends $12,164 per student, though comparable spending data for other schools is not available. Overall, Charleston Elementary offers a positive learning environment with strong science, excellent 5th-grade math, and low absenteeism, while ELA instruction and early-grade math are the main areas where parents might hope to see improvement. For families in this area, the school is a competitive choice that generally exceeds state averages despite a few grade-level gaps.