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Central Elementary School

Q: Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 287 th of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 2-3

287^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Central Elementary School in Lafayette, TN, is a compact school serving 473 students in grades 2 and 3 as part of Macon County Schools, a mid-tier Tennessee district ranked 77th out of 141. In 2025-2026, Central earned a 4-star rating and ranked 287th out of 1,019 Tennessee schools — the 72nd percentile and its best showing since 2021-2022. This marks a strong rebound from the prior year's 55th-percentile finish (3 stars) and continues a trend that has fluctuated between the 55th and 74th percentiles over the past several years.

Academically, Central outperforms both its district and the state in every tested subject: 53.3% proficiency in math versus 45.2% for Macon County and 43.0% statewide; 46.9% in English language arts versus 39.0% and 40.6%; and 51.9% in science versus 45.8% and 46.9%. Because Central serves only grades 2-3, these scores effectively represent 3rd-grade performance. Central outranks nearby Lafayette Elementary (rank 495), Red Boiling Springs Elementary (rank 505), Union Heights Elementary (rank 558), Westmoreland Elementary (rank 578), and Hermitage Springs Elementary (rank 797), while staying competitive with Bethpage Elementary (rank 292) and Trousdale County Elementary (rank 328). Westside Elementary (rank 306) posts higher 3rd-grade math scores, but Central edges it out in 3rd-grade ELA and science.

Central's chronic absenteeism is exceptionally low — historically 6-8%, versus a state average near 18-20% — and the school posts strong results for economically disadvantaged students (79th percentile, 4 stars) and Hispanic students (72nd percentile, up from 53rd three years ago). It achieves this while spending less per student ($12,408) than several lower-ranked neighbors, including Bethpage Elementary ($15,010) and Red Boiling Springs Elementary ($13,297). As the middle step in Macon County's grade-span pipeline, Central receives students from Fairlane Elementary (PK-1) and sends them to Lafayette Elementary (4-5). Areas worth watching include a sharp recent drop in ELL performance and a widening gender gap, but Central's overall picture is that of a high-performing, efficient school on strong footing.

473

Students ?

18.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,408

Per pupil spending ?

65.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

905 Sycamore Street
Lafayette, TN 37083

(615) 666-3265

District: Macon County Schools

Students who attend Central Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Macon County Junior High School
High:	Macon County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.0%

Hispanic:

20.1%

Two or more races:

1.9%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Central Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 11th percentile in 2013 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (51% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 61 percentile points since 2013

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Macon County Schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg43%

Tennessee avg43%

287^th of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▲ up 24 pts since 2018

From bottom 48% (2018) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 4Elementary Schools in the Macon County Schools

77^th of 141Macon 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	67.2	287 of 1019	71.8%	★★★★☆
2025	52.4	458 of 1009	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.8	338 of 1018	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.1	374 of 1020	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.2	263 of 1000	73.7%	★★★★☆
2021	55.0	376 of 983	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.9	523 of 997	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.3	603 of 855	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	58.6	322 of 853	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	26.2	751 of 846	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	51.3	438 of 820	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.3	535 of 818	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	46.6	459 of 809	43.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	18.2	207 of 211	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	64.4	36 of 178	79.8%	★★★★☆
2021	66.4	13 of 101	87.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	56.7	379 of 986	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.0	348 of 990	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.1	385 of 989	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.8	216 of 975	77.8%	★★★★☆
2021	62.0	262 of 945	72.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	66.3	127 of 458	72.3%	★★★★☆
2025	56.4	162 of 424	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.2	195 of 415	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.6	261 of 387	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.3	319 of 363	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	48.6	145 of 324	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	27.1	258 of 319	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	68.8	171 of 823	79.2%	★★★★☆
2025	48.6	420 of 843	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	76.0	108 of 853	87.3%	★★★★☆
2023	67.9	195 of 865	77.5%	★★★★☆
2022	58.1	277 of 858	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.6	276 of 823	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.8	338 of 877	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	47.0	511 of 984	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.0	319 of 991	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.0	340 of 987	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.6	320 of 980	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.1	454 of 941	51.8%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	44.1	296 of 641	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	25.5	507 of 618	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	47.0	217 of 528	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.7	70 of 447	84.3%	★★★★☆
2021	17.2	362 of 369	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	60.0	281 of 849	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.7	486 of 840	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.2	361 of 847	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.6	372 of 852	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.6	262 of 844	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.6	394 of 844	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.8	530 of 841	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)79th percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)72nd percentile~ school

White (2026)67th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)62nd percentile+7 vs school

Special Education (2026)54th percentile-18 vs school

Male (2025)48th percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)2nd percentile-53 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics53%+10 vs state

Science52%+5 vs state

English Language Arts47%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central 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)							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	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 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
Central Elementary School	Public	2-3	905 Sycamore Street	Lafayette	37083	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 666-3265	450	24	18.4	65.7%	358 (79.6%)	3 (0.7%)	78 (17.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.2%)	67.2	287^th of 1019 public elementary schools	71.8%		52.4	458^th of 1009 public elementary schools	54.6%	171	53.3						53.3	46.9						46.9	51.9						51.9					$12,408	$1,236	$10,281
Lafayette Elementary School	Public	4-5	401 Meador Drive	Lafayette	37083	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 666-8868	444	21	20.7	66.3%	356 (80.2%)	4 (0.9%)	68 (15.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.4%)	49.9	495^th of 1019 public elementary schools	51.4%		47.5	517^th of 1009 public elementary schools	48.8%	22		51.4	40.1				45.9		46.5	39.6				43.2		46.5	44.7				45.6					$11,647	$1,044	$9,760
Fairlane Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	305 Fairlane Drive	Lafayette	37083	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 666-2970	509	27	18.5	95.2%	405 (79.6%)	6 (1.2%)	86 (16.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.8%)								(n/a)																										$13,061	$1,484	$10,722
Westside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8025 Old Highway 52	Westmoreland	37186	Sumner County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 666-3128	382	21	17.8	87.0%	342 (89.5%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	65.2	306^th of 1019 public elementary schools	70.0%		58.3	375^th of 1009 public elementary schools	62.8%	69	65.4	58.3	60.9				61.3	42.3	46.7	55.1				48.6	48.1	50.0	43.5				47.0					$13,453	$1,668	$10,657
Red Boiling Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	417 Hillcrest Drive	Red Boiling Springs	37150	Macon County	Macon County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 699-2222	361	21	16.8	90.2%	312 (86.4%)	3 (0.8%)	37 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.5%)	49.1	505^th of 1019 public elementary schools	50.4%		45.3	536^th of 1009 public elementary schools	46.9%	31	44.4	63.3	47.3				50.9	39.7	49.0	40.0				42.5	34.9	51.0	27.3				37.1					$13,297	$1,626	$10,925
Trousdale County Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	115 Lock Six Road	Hartsville	37074	Trousdale County	Trousdale County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 374-3752	693	46	14.9	69.1%	564 (81.4%)	46 (6.6%)	52 (7.5%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.9%)	63	328^th of 1019 public elementary schools	67.8%		63.5	322^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	68.1%	6	56.2	62.1	40.7				53.2	53.3	62.1	38.9				51.7	44.8	61.2	37.0				48.0					$11,448	$985	$9,525
Westmoreland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4178 Hawkins Drive	Westmoreland	37186	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 644-2340	515	36	14.4	59.5%	458 (88.9%)	4 (0.8%)	34 (6.6%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.7%)	44.2	578^th of 1019 public elementary schools	43.3%		45.2	537^th of 1009 public elementary schools	46.8%	41	40.6	34.7	53.5				43.6	40.6	33.3	48.8				41.3	43.8	36.0	36.0				38.2					$14,303	$823	$12,746
Hermitage Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	17580 Clay County Highway	Red Boiling Springs	37150	Macon County	Clay County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 699-2414	201	18	11.3	78.7%	176 (87.6%)	1 (0.5%)	22 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	25.4	797^th of 1019 public elementary schools	21.8%		23.3	813^th of 1009 public elementary schools	19.4%	16	53.3	30.4	30.0	9.5	23.5	5.3	24.3	73.3	8.7	25.0	14.3	23.5	10.5	23.5	73.3	8.7	25.0	19.0	29.4	10.5	25.2	23.8	17.6	5.3	15.8	$15,007	$1,395	$12,693
Defeated Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	451 Defeated Creek Highway	Carthage	37030	Smith County	Smith County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 774-3150	260	20	13.2	61.5%	242 (93.1%)	2 (0.8%)	8 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	58.3	391^st of 1019 public elementary schools	61.6%		88.1	98^th of 1009 public elementary schools	90.3%	293	40.7	40.0	37.5	50.0	57.1	54.8	47.0	59.3	50.0	37.5	57.7	60.7	38.7	50.6	51.9	33.3	41.7	65.4	64.3	48.4	50.6	53.8	71.4	64.5	63.5	$12,018	$675	$10,452
Bethpage Elementary School	Public	K-5	420 Old Highway 31 E	Bethpage	37022	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 841-3212	262	20	12.8	50.7%	227 (86.6%)	2 (0.8%)	19 (7.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.0%)	66.9	292^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	71.3%		75.4	191^st of 1009 public elementary schools	81.1%	101	67.4	51.1	55.3				57.9	51.2	46.7	39.5				46.0	65.1	53.3	50.0				56.3					$15,010	$851	$12,736

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary School

What district is Central Elementary School in?

Macon County Schools

How many students attend Central Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 473 students attended Central Elementary School.

Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 287^th of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Central Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Macon County Junior High School
High : Macon County High School

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary School?

Students at Central Elementary School are 77% White, 20% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

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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.