Holladay Elementary School

Holladay Elementary School is a small alternative school in Holladay, Tennessee, that serves 134 students in grades K–9 as part of Benton County Schools. Both its strengths and challenges are shaped by its size and mission: the student-teacher ratio is just 8.1 to 1, meaning very small classes, and its alternative designation means it serves students who may need extra academic or behavioral support. The district ranks in the bottom quarter of Tennessee school districts, and Holladay sits about 14 miles from Clarksburg School, another alternative school in the South Carroll Special School District that offers a useful comparison.

The most pressing challenge is attendance. In 2024–2025, 21.5% of Holladay students were chronically absent, meaning they missed a significant share of the school year. That is higher than the state rate of 18.3% and nearly three times the rate at Clarksburg School, where just 7.2% of students were chronically absent. Missing class makes it harder for students to keep up, and proficiency rates at Holladay were below state averages in every tested subject in 2025–2026: math (25.7% versus 43.0% statewide), English language arts (27.0% versus 40.6%), science (36.5% versus 46.9%), and social studies (44.8% versus 51.4%). Holladay also trails Clarksburg in most subjects, though the gap varies by year — in 2024–2025, Holladay actually matched or beat Clarksburg in reading and social studies.

There are genuine bright spots. Fourth graders at Holladay scored above state averages in math, and 8th grade science and 6th grade social studies both exceeded state averages in the most recent year. The school also invests heavily in its students, spending about $13,861 per student in 2024–2025. But with such a small student body, results can swing dramatically from year to year — a difference of just two or three students can move a grade's proficiency rate by 15–20 points. For example, all-grades math proficiency fell to 9.5% in 2023–2024 before recovering to 25.7% two years later. For parents, the big picture is this: Holladay is a small school with committed resources and occasional standout classes, but chronic absenteeism and below-average core proficiency are the areas most worth watching and asking about.