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Big Sandy School

Q: Is Big Sandy School a good school?

Big Sandy School ranks 642 nd of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

642^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 37% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Big Sandy School in Big Sandy, Tennessee, is a small, rural K-8 elementary school serving 243 students as part of Benton County Schools, a district ranked in the bottom quarter of Tennessee districts. With a very low student-teacher ratio of 7.4 and strong attendance, the school has historically placed in the lower half of Tennessee schools. Its ranking fluctuates from year to year, sitting at the 37th percentile (2 stars) in 2025-26 after a tough 20th-percentile showing the year before.

The most defining challenge is mathematics. Only 19.8% of Big Sandy students are proficient in math, compared to 32.8% for the district and 43% statewide—the lowest math score among all nearby schools with available data, well below Tennessee Ridge Elementary School (37.5%) and roughly half of Briarwood School in the same district (37.6%). The difficulties begin early: 4th grade math proficiency sits at just 13%, and only 5.3% of 5th graders are proficient, with math scores below 25% for four consecutive years. In contrast, the school does well in other subjects. ELA proficiency (40.6%) matches the state average, and science (52.1%) exceeds both district and state averages, with 8th grade science reaching an impressive 80%.

Big Sandy also shows strengths beyond test scores. Chronic absenteeism is low at 14.9%, below the district (16.9%) and state (18.3%), and special education students rank in the 70th percentile statewide—up from the 56th the previous year. Spending has climbed to $13,281 per student, but more money hasn't translated into stronger math results; nearby Central Elementary School spends less ($11,560) and outperforms Big Sandy in every subject. The school's ability to reach state-average or better in ELA and science, alongside its strong special education outcomes, suggests a subject-specific instructional gap in math rather than a lack of student potential. With low class sizes and a recent overall recovery, the opportunity lies in bringing the strategies that work in literacy and science into the math classroom.

243

Students ?

7.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,281

Per pupil spending ?

30.9%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

13305 Highway 69 A
Big Sandy, TN 38221

(731) 593-3221

District: Benton County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.9%

Two or more races:

2.5%

Hispanic:

1.2%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Big Sandy School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 54th percentile in 2022 → 37th in 2026

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Tennessee average (89%)

✓Small classes — about 7 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (39% vs 45% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 54th-percentile peak (2022) to 37th (2026)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school39%

District avg36%

Tennessee avg45%

Elementary school

642^nd of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 8 pts since 2018

From bottom 45% (2018) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

199^th of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 34%▼ down 9 pts since 2017

From top 24% (2017) to top 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the Benton County Schools

112^th of 141Benton County Schools among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	39.0	642 of 1019	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	23.3	811 of 1009	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.4	658 of 1018	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.9	549 of 1020	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.8	464 of 1000	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.0	512 of 983	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.5	615 of 985	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.3	548 of 997	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	32.9	673 of 855	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	23.9	721 of 853	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	51.6	521 of 846	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	66.0	293 of 820	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	11.6	777 of 818	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	16.7	725 of 809	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	26.0	765 of 986	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.3	798 of 990	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.6	612 of 989	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.0	503 of 975	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.4	729 of 945	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.5	518 of 926	44.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	27.2	681 of 853	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	71.0	153 of 865	82.3%	★★★★☆
2022	84.1	57 of 858	93.4%	★★★★★
2021	30.3	596 of 823	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.4	678 of 821	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	51.6	377 of 877	57.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	23.8	787 of 984	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.6	655 of 991	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.5	386 of 987	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.6	385 of 980	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	19.0	781 of 941	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	54.2	195 of 641	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.9	273 of 618	55.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	27.3	664 of 849	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	12.3	805 of 840	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	25.6	678 of 847	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.7	603 of 852	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.2	548 of 844	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.6	550 of 844	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.5	631 of 812	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.3	584 of 841	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	62.7	199 of 594	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.6	318 of 583	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.9	243 of 587	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.2	284 of 594	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.9	195 of 569	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.7	147 of 576	74.5%	★★★★☆
2019	27.4	438 of 574	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	58.7	191 of 563	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.9	87 of 362	76.0%	★★★★☆
2015	57.5	232 of 492	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	39.3	340 of 485	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	45.9	332 of 475	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	28.0	375 of 466	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	4.7	458 of 462	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	40.9	275 of 435	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	48.6	279 of 546	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.7	304 of 554	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.7	361 of 560	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.4	212 of 552	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.9	140 of 538	74.0%	★★★★☆
2019	32.1	386 of 529	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	68.3	97 of 510	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	46.7	242 of 514	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.8	244 of 495	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.1	366 of 490	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	72.9	54 of 481	88.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	36.0	364 of 550	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.6	211 of 560	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.7	170 of 557	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.6	102 of 540	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	33.2	361 of 523	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	44.7	265 of 494	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.4	355 of 492	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.4	277 of 504	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.1	307 of 503	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.7	231 of 500	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.0	172 of 496	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	19.9	437 of 484	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	51.5	205 of 481	57.4%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	28.2	281 of 389	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.2	154 of 392	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	119 of 384	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.2	67 of 358	81.3%	★★★★☆
2021	61.4	79 of 347	77.2%	★★★★☆
2019	70.5	53 of 342	84.5%	★★★★☆
2018	65.9	70 of 341	79.5%	★★★★☆
2017	42.9	151 of 273	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.6	202 of 351	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	47.6	198 of 300	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	40.7	205 of 296	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	36.3	239 of 285	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	82.9	27 of 269	90.0%	★★★★★
2011	28.9	230 of 273	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	56.8	133 of 267	50.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	46.9	182 of 365	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.2	138 of 366	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.4	130 of 350	62.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	87.6	16 of 337	95.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	22.9	292 of 366	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	75.5	40 of 359	88.9%	★★★★☆
2022	59.4	100 of 349	71.3%	★★★★☆
2021	72.2	36 of 332	89.2%	★★★★☆
2019	90.6	17 of 329	94.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	22.7	269 of 323	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.9	169 of 326	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.9	126 of 325	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	91 of 312	70.8%	★★★★☆
2021	61.8	64 of 306	79.1%	★★★★☆
2019	65.9	62 of 301	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	58.1	93 of 307	69.7%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Special Education (2026)70th percentile+33 vs school

Female (2025)22nd percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)22nd percentile-15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)20th percentile-15 vs school

Male (2025)20th percentile~ school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)81st percentile+22 vs school

Female (2025)49th percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)46th percentile-20 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile-12 vs school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)95th percentile+35 vs school

Female (2024)50th percentile-11 vs school

Male (2024)20th percentile-40 vs school

White (2025)17th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Science52%+5 vs state

Social Studies51%~ state avg

English Language Arts41%~ state avg

Mathematics20%-23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Big Sandy School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)							TNReady English Language Arts (2026)							TNReady Science (2026)							TNReady Social Studies (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Big Sandy School	Public	K-8	13305 Highway 69 A	Big Sandy	38221	Benton County	Benton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 593-3221	266	36	7.4	30.9%	257 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	39	642^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	37.0%		23.3	811^th of 1009 public elementary schools	19.6%	169	26.7	13.0	5.3	18.2	27.8	40.0	19.8	53.3	39.1	21.1	54.5	44.4	40.0	40.6	46.7	56.5	26.3	63.6	55.6	80.0	52.1	63.6	38.9	60.0	51.3	$13,281	$1,068	$11,226
Camden Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	208 Washington Avenue	Camden	38320	Benton County	Benton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 584-4918	461	34	13.7	33.9%	415 (90.0%)	12 (2.6%)	14 (3.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.5%)								(n/a)																										$13,060	$1,045	$11,050
Briarwood School	Public	3-5	169 Briarwood Avenue	Camden	38320	Benton County	Benton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 584-4257	393	28	14.2	29.6%	348 (88.5%)	20 (5.1%)	13 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.5%)	39.1	641^st of 1019 public elementary schools	37.1%		41.1	596^th of 1009 public elementary schools	40.9%	45	41.0	33.6	38.8				37.6	40.2	32.1	37.2				36.3	41.0	28.6	55.0				41.2					$13,021	$1,041	$11,018
Lakewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	6745 Highway 79 North	Buchanan	38222	Henry County	Henry County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 644-1600	749	50	15.0	23.3%	683 (91.2%)	6 (0.8%)	35 (4.7%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.8%)	72.2	224^th of 1019 public elementary schools	78.0%		79.3	161^st of 1009 public elementary schools	84.0%	63	37.2	72.5	53.8	62.0	52.3	58.7	55.8	44.9	68.8	41.0	53.5	47.7	48.0	50.5	50.0	68.8	46.2	66.2	57.0	58.7	57.7	59.2	71.0	58.7	64.0	$13,050	$1,358	$10,697
W G Rhea Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	115 South Wilson Street	Paris	38242	Henry County	Paris Special School District	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 642-0961	555	38	14.6	38.2%	351 (63.2%)	103 (18.6%)	19 (3.4%)	7 (1.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	72 (13.0%)								(n/a)																										$14,790	$1,626	$12,005
Paris Elementary School	Public	3-5	650 B Volunteer Drive	Paris	38242	Henry County	Paris Special School District	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 642-3675	539	34	15.9	38.4%	366 (67.9%)	73 (13.5%)	29 (5.4%)	13 (2.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (10.4%)	62.1	345^th of 1019 public elementary schools	66.1%		63.5	321^st of 1009 public elementary schools	68.2%	24	57.8	59.0	52.9				56.4	52.6	48.1	44.2				47.9	48.9	48.1	42.4				46.2					$13,418	$702	$11,762
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	29590 Broad Street	Bruceton	38317	Carroll County	Hollow Rock - Bruceton Special School District	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 418-4168	296	23	13.1	33.5%	258 (87.2%)	9 (3.0%)	6 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (7.1%)	62.2	343^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	66.3%		67.5	262^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	74.0%	81	48.6	60.5	39.6				48.8	54.1	55.3	36.2				47.5	51.4	63.2	47.9				53.7					$11,560	$1,020	$9,555
Lakeview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	802 Long Street	New Johnsonville	37134	Humphreys County	Humphreys County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 535-2513	376	29	12.7	28.7%	326 (86.7%)	6 (1.6%)	21 (5.6%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.3%)	47.1	529^th of 1019 public elementary schools	48.1%		30.2	731^st of 1009 public elementary schools	27.6%	202	37.8	80.6	33.3	32.3	48.4	48.5	47.5	48.6	30.6	30.0	22.6	35.5	15.2	30.8	35.1	66.7	40.0	45.2	54.8	30.3	45.5	45.2	64.5	51.5	53.7	$12,851	$1,065	$10,893
Henry Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	937 Pioneer Road	Henry	38231	Henry County	Henry County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 227-2067	352	28	12.6	41.1%	263 (74.7%)	22 (6.3%)	39 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.7%)	40.6	631^st of 1019 public elementary schools	38.1%		32.2	710^th of 1009 public elementary schools	29.6%	79	37.5	70.4	22.9	38.7	33.3	48.8	41.3	37.5	48.1	34.3	29.0	18.2	11.6	28.4	37.5	51.9	25.7	29.0	39.4	39.5	36.8	45.2	42.4	39.5	42.1	$15,727	$2,042	$12,610
Tennessee Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	135 School Street	Tennessee Ridge	37178	Houston County	Houston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 721-3780	205	15	13.8	30.9%	168 (82.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (8.3%)	29.6	756^th of 1019 public elementary schools	25.8%		30.2	733^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	27.4%	23	40.7	33.3	40.9				37.5	29.6	30.8	40.9				33.0	29.6	33.3	31.8				31.8					$14,088	$1,108	$11,859

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Sandy School

What is the racial makeup of Big Sandy School?

Students at Big Sandy School are 96% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

How many students attend Big Sandy School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 243 students attended Big Sandy School.

What district is Big Sandy School in?

Benton County Schools

Is Big Sandy School a good school?

Big Sandy School ranks 642^nd of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.