Thomas Magnet School

Thomas Magnet School in Shelbyville, TN, is a K–8 magnet school serving 436 students in Bedford County Schools — a district that ranks in the 38th percentile statewide, yet Thomas has earned a 5-star rating and is ranked 5th out of 1,019 Tennessee schools in 2025-2026, placing it in the top 1% of schools for over a decade.

Thomas’s academic results are exceptional across the board. In the most recent TNReady tests, proficiency rates were roughly double to triple the district and state averages: 88.6% in math, 84.7% in English language arts, 88.9% in science, and 85.9% in social studies. These numbers are 49–50 percentage points above the local district and 34–45 points above the state average in every subject. The school’s success is consistent across grade levels, from 3rd through 8th grade, and it has improved or held steady in recent years while maintaining its elite status. Notably, students from low-income families, Hispanic students, and African American students at Thomas rank among the very top in Tennessee, showing that strong results are achieved for every demographic group.

The contrast with nearby schools is striking. Within walking distance, East Side Elementary School posts 44.2% math proficiency and 32.5% ELA — about 44 and 52 points lower than Thomas. Similarly, Eakin Elementary School spends 30% more per student yet achieves 22.5% math proficiency. Thomas also stands out for low chronic absenteeism (as low as 5.1% historically) and operates with less spending per pupil than nearly every neighboring school. This combination of long-term consistency, equity across student groups, and efficiency makes Thomas Magnet School a remarkable academic outlier in Bedford County.