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Big Ridge Elementary School

Q: Is Big Ridge Elementary School a good school?

Big Ridge Elementary School ranks 176 th of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

176^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 83% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Big Ridge Elementary School is a K-5 school in Hixson, TN, serving 466 students as part of Hamilton County Schools. Despite being in a district that ranks only in the 43rd percentile statewide, Big Ridge consistently ranks among Tennessee's top elementary schools — placing 176th out of 1,019 schools (83rd percentile) with a 4-star rating in 2025-2026. The school has stayed in the 80th-90th percentile over the past decade, and it substantially outperforms both district and state averages in every tested subject: math (53.6% proficient vs. 43.0% statewide), ELA (61.1% vs. 40.6%), and science (62.1% vs. 46.9%).

What truly sets Big Ridge apart is how it achieves these results. Its 61.1% ELA proficiency rate is the highest among nearby schools, edging out even the highly regarded Normal Park Museum Magnet (58.7%) and McConnell Elementary (58.4%). Chronic absenteeism sits at just 8.8%, less than half the district and state averages of about 19-20% — a stark contrast to schools like Hardy Elementary (26.2%) and Harrison Elementary (21.8%). Big Ridge's special education students rank in the 96th percentile statewide, and its Hispanic students also rank in the 96th percentile. Remarkably, the school achieves all this while spending $17,305 per student — less than many lower-performing nearby schools like Hixson Elementary ($20,386) and DuPont Elementary ($19,249).

The main area to watch is third-grade math, where only 35.4% of students are proficient compared to 42.6% statewide — though 4th and 5th grade math are strong, suggesting students catch up well. Outcomes for economically disadvantaged and African American students have also fluctuated from year to year. But with consistently low absenteeism, standout results for student subgroups, and efficient spending, Big Ridge remains one of the most effective and dependable elementary schools in the Hamilton County area.

466

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,305

Per pupil spending ?

25.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5210 Cassandra Smith Road
Hixson, TN 37343

(423) 843-4793

District: Hamilton County Schools

Students who attend Big Ridge Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Hixson Middle School
High:	Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper
	Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State
	Hixson High School
	Sequoyah High School
	More...
	STEM School Chattanooga

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.1%

Two or more races:

8.8%

Asian:

7.9%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Big Ridge Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 89th percentile in 2015 → 83rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (59% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 17% of Tennessee elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg42%

Tennessee avg43%

176^th of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 17%▼ down 8 pts since 2017

From top 9% (2017) to top 17% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 42Elementary Schools in the Hamilton County Schools

81^st of 141Hamilton 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	77.1	176 of 1019	82.7%	★★★★☆
2025	74.0	204 of 1009	79.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.4	150 of 1018	85.3%	★★★★☆
2023	81.9	136 of 1020	86.7%	★★★★☆
2022	82.6	130 of 1000	87.0%	★★★★☆
2021	76.2	167 of 983	83.0%	★★★★☆
2019	87.7	102 of 985	89.6%	★★★★☆
2018	84.7	113 of 997	88.7%	★★★★☆
2017	80.3	61 of 646	90.6%	★★★★★
2015	84.7	95 of 855	88.9%	★★★★☆
2014	86.4	52 of 853	93.9%	★★★★★
2013	90.6	43 of 846	94.9%	★★★★★
2012	89.7	72 of 820	91.2%	★★★★★
2011	90.9	67 of 818	91.8%	★★★★★
2010	87.7	85 of 809	89.5%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	69.0	129 of 498	74.1%	★★★★☆
2025	44.3	254 of 498	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.9	195 of 498	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	80.4	63 of 500	87.4%	★★★★☆
2022	78.6	71 of 483	85.3%	★★★★☆
2021	53.6	135 of 411	67.2%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2023	64.1	26 of 57	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	69.7	235 of 986	76.2%	★★★★☆
2024	75.1	185 of 990	81.3%	★★★★☆
2023	79.0	144 of 989	85.4%	★★★★☆
2022	78.9	139 of 975	85.7%	★★★★☆
2021	78.3	135 of 945	85.7%	★★★★☆
2019	78.9	141 of 926	84.8%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	96.4	19 of 424	95.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	44.7	469 of 823	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.1	237 of 843	71.9%	★★★★☆
2024	26.5	690 of 853	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	69.7	169 of 865	80.5%	★★★★☆
2022	81.0	76 of 858	91.1%	★★★★★
2021	69.7	136 of 823	83.5%	★★★★☆
2019	85.9	33 of 821	96.0%	★★★★★
2018	61.1	247 of 877	71.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	74.2	183 of 984	81.4%	★★★★☆
2024	79.9	145 of 991	85.4%	★★★★☆
2023	80.7	137 of 987	86.1%	★★★★☆
2022	81.4	128 of 980	86.9%	★★★★☆
2021	68.5	216 of 941	77.0%	★★★★☆
2019	91.9	59 of 916	93.6%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	90.8	23 of 641	96.4%	★★★★★
2025	67.6	112 of 618	81.9%	★★★★☆
2024	75.4	77 of 582	86.8%	★★★★☆
2023	94.6	13 of 528	97.5%	★★★★★
2022	86.1	35 of 447	92.2%	★★★★★
2019	62.0	57 of 255	77.6%	★★★★☆
2018	31.9	280 of 395	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	69.1	206 of 849	75.7%	★★★★☆
2025	64.8	233 of 840	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	77.2	154 of 847	81.8%	★★★★☆
2023	80.3	134 of 852	84.3%	★★★★☆
2022	78.3	140 of 844	83.4%	★★★★☆
2021	71.6	178 of 844	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	81.4	127 of 812	84.4%	★★★★☆
2018	76.8	152 of 841	81.9%	★★★★☆

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)

Special Education (2026)96th percentile+14 vs school

Hispanic (2025)96th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2025)81st percentile~ school

Female (2025)76th percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)76th percentile-7 vs school

African American (2026)74th percentile-9 vs school

Asian (2023)54th percentile-32 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Science62%+15 vs state

English Language Arts61%+21 vs state

Mathematics54%+11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Big Ridge Elementary 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)				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	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2016)	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 All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Big Ridge Elementary School	Public	K-5	5210 Cassandra Smith Road	Hixson	37343	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 843-4793	473	35	13.5	30.4%	325 (68.7%)	28 (5.9%)	37 (7.8%)	41 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	38 (8.0%)	77.1	176^th of 1019 public elementary schools	82.7%		74	204^th of 1009 public elementary schools	79.8%	28	35.4	64.6	60.8	53.6	56.4	70.7	55.4	61.1	58.2	69.5	58.1	62.1	$17,305	$1,208	$15,547
Hixson Elementary School	Public	K-5	5950 Winding Ln	Hixson	37343	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 870-0621	418	29	14.5	82.6%	179 (42.8%)	59 (14.1%)	126 (30.1%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (12.0%)	14.1	900^th of 1019 public elementary schools	11.7%		29.3	747^th of 1009 public elementary schools	26.0%	153	14.8	18.8	30.4	21.6	16.4	31.4	16.2	21.6	24.6	25.7	27.5	26.0	$20,386	$927	$18,550
DuPont Elementary School	Public	K-5	4134 Hixson Pike	Chattanooga	37415	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 870-0615	249	21	11.8	85.2%	87 (34.9%)	55 (22.1%)	70 (28.1%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (13.3%)	12.7	913^th of 1019 public elementary schools	10.4%		14.8	890^th of 1009 public elementary schools	11.8%	23	27.3	18.6	14.3	19.8	27.3	16.3	17.1	19.8	30.3	23.3	22.9	25.2	$19,249	$1,308	$17,142
Alpine Crest Elementary School	Public	K-5	4700 Stagg Road	Chattanooga	37415	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 874-1921	301	24	12.8	73.7%	167 (55.5%)	44 (14.6%)	61 (20.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.6%)	56.8	416^th of 1019 public elementary schools	59.2%		42.5	578^th of 1009 public elementary schools	42.7%	162	47.7	30.0	69.7	46.5	43.2	42.9	60.6	47.6	40.9	50.0	66.7	51.2	$18,551	$694	$16,996
Rivermont Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3330 Hixson Pike	Chattanooga	37415	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 870-0610	383	26	15.0	83.3%	168 (43.9%)	105 (27.4%)	47 (12.3%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (14.9%)	55.6	429^th of 1019 public elementary schools	57.9%		35.8	666^th of 1009 public elementary schools	34.0%	237	22.2	45.5	50.0	40.0	45.7	47.7	37.5	43.2	48.9	56.8	62.5	56.6	$19,191	$925	$17,408
Middle Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1609 Thrasher Pike	Hixson	37343	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 843-4700	739	42	17.6	43.8%	570 (77.1%)	37 (5.0%)	61 (8.3%)	12 (1.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (7.7%)	56.2	419^th of 1019 public elementary schools	58.9%		52.4	459^th of 1009 public elementary schools	54.5%	40	20.4	52.6	72.4	49.7	29.1	48.5	48.3	42.8	26.2	60.3	63.8	51.5	$16,453	$1,064	$14,602
Harrison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8098 Ferdinand Piech Way	Chattanooga	37416	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 344-1428	884	55	15.9	71.3%	163 (18.4%)	532 (60.2%)	100 (11.3%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	85 (9.6%)	8	957^th of 1019 public elementary schools	6.1%		9.8	944^th of 1009 public elementary schools	6.4%	13	7.5	24.0	19.0	16.8	13.2	25.6	8.5	16.1	17.5	25.0	9.4	17.6	$17,505	$1,198	$15,564
McConnell Elementary School	Public	K-5	8629 Columbus Road	Hixson	37343	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 843-4704	448	27	16.9	43.2%	370 (82.6%)	15 (3.3%)	29 (6.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.9%)	74.8	197^th of 1019 public elementary schools	80.7%		87.4	102^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	89.9%	95	48.4	69.8	49.4	54.6	50.0	64.8	60.8	58.4	53.1	68.5	54.4	57.9	$18,097	$905	$16,471
Hardy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2100 Glass Street	Chattanooga	37406	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 493-0300	419	35	12.1	93.9%	11 (2.6%)	329 (78.5%)	35 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (10.5%)	2.6	1017^th of 1019 public elementary schools	0.2%		2.9	1008^th of 1009 public elementary schools	0.1%	9		6.8	12.0	7.3	5.9	8.2	5.3	6.5	7.2	8.2		6.0	$21,366	$1,885	$18,340
Bess T Shepherd Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7126 Tyner Road	Chattanooga	37421	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 855-2611	494	35	14.0	90.6%	55 (11.1%)	233 (47.2%)	163 (33.0%)	11 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.5%)	21.1	846^th of 1019 public elementary schools	17.0%		14.3	894^th of 1009 public elementary schools	11.4%	48	25.0	31.8	20.4	25.5	37.0	39.8	29.6	35.3	22.8	26.7	18.4	22.5	$17,058	$965	$15,249

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Ridge Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Big Ridge Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Big Ridge Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hixson Middle School
High : Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper
High : Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State
High : Hixson High School
High : Sequoyah High School
High : STEM School Chattanooga

How many students attend Big Ridge Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 466 students attended Big Ridge Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Big Ridge Elementary School?

Students at Big Ridge Elementary School are 69% White, 9% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 7% Hispanic, 7% African American.

Is Big Ridge Elementary School a good school?

Big Ridge Elementary School ranks 176^th of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Big Ridge Elementary School in?

Hamilton County Schools

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresNewAug 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.