Summary:
Finley, Tennessee, is served by a single school, Finley Elementary School, which enrolls 234 students in grades PK–5 and is part of Dyer County Schools, a district ranked 19th out of 141 districts in Tennessee. As the city's only school, Finley Elementary represents the entire public school landscape in Finley, and it stands out as a strong performer. The school earned 4 stars in every reported year and has ranked in the top quarter of Tennessee elementary schools for the past three years, including a notable jump to 149th out of 1,009 schools in 2024–2025 before settling at 214th out of 1,019 in 2025–2026.
Academically, Finley Elementary is a clear math and science school. In 2025–2026, 64.5% of students scored proficient in mathematics and 61.8% in science, far exceeding both the district and state averages. Math proficiency is remarkably consistent across grades, with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders all scoring between 63% and 66%. Science performance is also strong overall, though it dips notably in 4th grade to 48.7%, below the district average. Chronic absenteeism is an outstanding positive at just 10.3%, well below the district's 11.5% and the state's 18.3%.
The biggest concern is English Language Arts. While 3rd graders post a strong 60.5% proficiency rate, that number falls to 43.6% in 4th grade and 36.4% in 5th grade—both below district and state averages. Year-over-year, math improved significantly by 6.5 points, while ELA dropped sharply by 8.7 points. This recent decline in reading appears to be a primary driver behind the school's 2025–2026 ranking dip. For parents, Finley Elementary offers strong math and science instruction, excellent attendance, and a positive school climate, but the upper elementary grades would benefit from additional literacy support to reverse the concerning downward trend in English Language Arts.
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