Best Elementary Schools in Decatur, TN

Decatur, Tennessee is served by two public elementary schools, Meigs North Elementary School and Meigs South Elementary School, both offering grades PK–5 as part of Meigs County Schools, a district ranked in the lower tier statewide but with meaningful differences between its schools. Meigs North is the clear academic leader, holding a higher state ranking in every reported year and outperforming Meigs South in math and science; for example, Meigs North's 2025–2026 math proficiency is 37.2% versus 25.7% at Meigs South, and its science score of 46.9% exactly matches the state average. Meigs North also reached the 55th percentile statewide in 2024–2025, a strong result given the district's overall 28th percentile rank. Meigs South, however, shines in English Language Arts, posting slightly higher ELA proficiency than Meigs North in both school years, and its 3rd grade ELA score of 38.1% is well above Meigs North's 24.3% and the district's 30.8%.

Both schools struggle most with math, especially at Meigs South, where only 19.0% of third graders are proficient in math, and at Meigs North, where 5th grade math drops to 27.7%. Science is a relative strength for both, particularly Meigs North's 4th grade science at 58.3% and its 2024–2025 overall science proficiency of 59.4%, far above the state average. Chronic absenteeism is low in this district at 8.9% compared to the state's 18.3%, suggesting good attendance is a positive foundation. Meigs South spends about $325 more per student than Meigs North, yet Meigs North achieves better overall outcomes, raising questions about resource allocation, though missing data on free/reduced lunch and student-teacher ratios limits deeper analysis.

Notably, both schools improved from 2023–2024 to 2024–2025, then declined in 2025–2026, with Meigs North falling from 3 stars to 2 stars and Meigs South dropping to 1 star, which may point to districtwide trends rather than isolated issues. For parents, Meigs North offers the stronger all-around academics and standout science, while Meigs South has particular strengths in reading and early-grade science but faces significant math challenges. Overall, these two elementary schools provide a solid foundation with good attendance, but targeted math support and attention to the recent decline would benefit students across Decatur.