Summary
Norwood Elementary School is a small PK–5 school in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, serving about 214 students and operating as part of Anderson County Schools. It currently ranks in the 40th percentile of Tennessee elementary schools with a 2-star rating, a striking improvement from a decade ago when it sat at the very bottom of the state. Overall proficiency rates are 42.6% in math, 37.6% in English language arts, and 36.6% in science—essentially at or near district and state averages in math and ELA, while science remains the weakest subject relative to benchmarks.
The clearest story at Norwood is its upward momentum. Since 2022–23, all-grades math proficiency jumped from 24.5% to 42.6%, ELA rose from 26.1% to 37.6%, and science improved from 25.5% to 36.6%. This stands in contrast to nearby Dutch Valley Elementary School and Petros Joyner Elementary School, which have remained stuck at much lower levels. Norwood’s 3rd-grade scores are particularly encouraging: 60.7% proficient in math, above the district (43.4%), the state (42.6%), and several higher-ranked neighbors like Grand Oaks Elementary School, Hardin Valley Elementary School, and Willow Brook Elementary School. However, 4th-grade scores fall off a cliff—math at 28.2%, ELA at 23.1%, and science at 20.5%—before a partial rebound in 5th grade. This 4th-grade dip is the single biggest drag on the school’s overall ranking.
Other notable trends include a significant gender gap: female students rank much higher statewide than male students, suggesting instructional approaches may be less effective for boys. Economically disadvantaged students, by contrast, perform relatively well compared with similar schools across Tennessee. Attendance is a clear strength, with chronic absenteeism at 13.5% in 2024–25, below both district and state averages. Per-pupil spending is $16,212, higher than some higher-performing neighbors like Grand Oaks and Dyllis Springs Elementary School. With small class sizes, solid attendance, and clear upward momentum, Norwood has the pieces to become one of the stronger elementary schools in the region—if it can address the 4th-grade slump and the gap for male students.
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