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Thelma Barker Elementary School

Q: Is Thelma Barker Elementary School a good school?

Thelma Barker Elementary School ranks in the bottom 23.4% of Tennessee elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Thelma Barker Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 776 students attended Thelma Barker Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Thelma Barker Elementary School?

Students at Thelma Barker Elementary School are 45% African American, 29% Hispanic, 14% White, 9% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Public Grades K-5

781^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Thelma Barker Elementary School in Jackson, TN, serves 776 students in grades K-5, making it the largest elementary school in the Jackson-Madison County Schools district — a district that ranks in the bottom 5% of Tennessee. Despite that context, Thelma Barker is one of the higher-performing schools in its immediate area. Its 2025-26 state ranking (781st of 1,019 elementary schools, 23rd percentile) represents a dip from recent years, but it remains well above several nearby schools such as Lincoln Elementary School and Isaac Lane Technology Magnet Elementary School, which both rank near the bottom statewide.

Academically, Thelma Barker exceeds its district averages in every subject but trails state averages: 32.3% of students are proficient in math (vs. 43.0% statewide), 30.2% in ELA (vs. 40.6%), and 34.7% in science (vs. 46.9%). Parents comparing nearby options will find that Pope School, about a mile and a half away, edges out Thelma Barker in all core subjects, while Community Montessori School ranks in the 70th percentile statewide. A clear strength is attendance: chronic absenteeism is 16.8%, far better than the district's 28.2% and the 36–48% rates seen at schools like Alexander Elementary School and Andrew Jackson Elementary School. Thelma Barker also spends less per student ($12,050) than many lower-performing nearby schools, suggesting efficient use of resources.

There are concerns families should know. The school's ranking has slipped from the 66th percentile a decade ago, and special education results are a serious red flag at the 6th percentile statewide. English learner performance has also been volatile, dropping from the 72nd to the 28th percentile in a single year. On the positive side, math proficiency improves steadily from 3rd to 5th grade, 4th-grade ELA is a bright spot, and low-income students have improved over the past two years. In short, Thelma Barker is a solid neighborhood school that does more with less in a challenging district — a reasonable choice for families in the Ashport Road area, though those seeking the strongest academic outcomes nearby may also want to consider Pope School and Community Montessori.

776

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,050

Per pupil spending ?

33.8%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

1470 Ashport Road
Jackson, TN 38305

(731) 668-8831

District: Jackson-Madison County Schools

Students who attend Thelma Barker Elementary School usually attend:

High:	Madison Academic Magnet High School
	North Side High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

45.0%

Hispanic:

29.4%

White:

13.9%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Thelma Barker Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 66th percentile in 2015 → 23rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (32% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 43 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg27%

Tennessee avg43%

781^st of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▲ up 7 pts since 2017

From bottom 16% (2017) to bottom 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 12Elementary Schools in the Jackson-Madison County Schools

134^th of 141Jackson-Madison 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	27.3	781 of 1019	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.9	679 of 1009	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.8	698 of 1018	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.3	688 of 1020	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.9	677 of 1000	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.4	797 of 983	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.0	659 of 985	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.7	604 of 997	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	26.4	541 of 646	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	65.4	291 of 855	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	62.6	279 of 853	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	62.7	354 of 846	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.7	197 of 820	76.0%	★★★★☆
2011	72.5	210 of 818	74.3%	★★★★☆
2010	94.4	51 of 809	93.7%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	37.4	312 of 498	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.4	237 of 498	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.6	282 of 498	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.3	226 of 500	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.0	213 of 483	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	29.0	278 of 411	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.5	210 of 404	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.3	204 of 450	54.7%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	34.0	152 of 211	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	58.0	50 of 178	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	41.7	85 of 164	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.1	132 of 165	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.7	58 of 101	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.5	42 of 66	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.3	88 of 95	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	34.9	658 of 986	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.0	726 of 990	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.2	683 of 989	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.8	620 of 975	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.3	768 of 945	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.4	619 of 926	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	38.4	290 of 458	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.7	222 of 424	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.2	221 of 415	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.8	242 of 387	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.9	230 of 363	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.8	249 of 324	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.4	171 of 250	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.1	212 of 319	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	42.3	502 of 823	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.7	521 of 843	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.3	640 of 853	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.0	664 of 865	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.1	619 of 858	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.6	722 of 823	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.8	512 of 821	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.9	544 of 877	38.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	34.5	666 of 984	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.3	622 of 991	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.9	651 of 987	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.1	710 of 980	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.0	730 of 941	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.3	640 of 916	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	18.5	604 of 641	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.2	370 of 395	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	50.0	394 of 849	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.3	406 of 840	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.1	400 of 847	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.4	321 of 852	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.6	289 of 844	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.8	692 of 844	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	51.1	334 of 812	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.5	254 of 841	69.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

White (2026)54th percentile+30 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)39th percentile+16 vs school

African American (2026)37th percentile+14 vs school

Hispanic (2026)37th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2025)33rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)32nd percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2025)28th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)6th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Science35%-12 vs state

Mathematics32%-11 vs state

English Language Arts30%-10 vs state

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Friday, January 5, 2018

Too many children at the school and in the classrooms. Children are getting passed on who cannot read. Close Quote

Schools Near Thelma Barker 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	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
Thelma Barker Elementary School	Public	K-5	1470 Ashport Road	Jackson	38305	Madison County	Jackson-Madison County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 668-8831	715	49	14.4	33.8%	110 (15.4%)	321 (44.9%)	181 (25.3%)	35 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (9.5%)	27.3	781^st of 1019 public elementary schools	23.4%		34.9	679^th of 1009 public elementary schools	32.7%	102	26.5	30.7	39.2				32.3	20.4	38.6	29.6				30.2	30.1	36.4	36.8				34.7					$12,050	$1,298	$9,950
Pope School	Public	PK, KG-8	1081 Ashport Road	Jackson	38305	Madison County	Jackson-Madison County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 668-0350	613	41	14.9	37.9%	169 (27.6%)	308 (50.2%)	60 (9.8%)	23 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (8.6%)	42.3	606^th of 1019 public elementary schools	40.5%		52.6	456^th of 1009 public elementary schools	54.8%	150	43.0	38.7	46.3	38.2	23.5	21.2	36.3	34.7	35.5	36.7	35.3	28.2	18.2	32.4	42.0	38.3	35.5	49.0	38.8	13.6	37.6	37.3	48.5	36.4	41.3	$12,762	$1,230	$10,824
Bradford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	136 Highway 45 S	Bradford	38316	Gibson County	Bradford Special School District	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 742-2118	310	21	15.0	19.9%	276 (89.0%)	13 (4.2%)	8 (2.6%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	45.8	551^st of 1019 public elementary schools	45.9%		50.3	483^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	52.1%	68	46.9	40.4	33.9				39.2	43.8	43.1	51.7				46.8	25.0	44.2	44.1				39.9					$15,053	$1,004	$12,966
Andrew Jackson Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	211 Old Hickory Boulevard	Jackson	38305	Madison County	Jackson-Madison County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(731) 668-8023	481	30	16.3	55.3%	26 (5.4%)	334 (69.4%)	69 (14.3%)	10 (2.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (8.1%)	7.4	970^th of 1019 public elementary schools	4.8%		9.8	942^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	6.6%	28	14.0	5.4	15.8				11.4	17.6	11.8	14.5				14.6	20.9	25.0	18.4				21.7					$12,093	$1,439	$9,827
East Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2480 Ashport Road	Jackson	38305	Madison County	Jackson-Madison County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 988-3860	491	34	14.4	38.8%	147 (29.9%)	238 (48.5%)	50 (10.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (11.0%)	29.1	760^th of 1019 public elementary schools	25.4%		29.8	739^th of 1009 public elementary schools	26.8%	21	20.8	40.5	34.2				32.1	29.2	38.8	35.6				34.7	30.6	40.0	29.2				33.5					$12,904	$1,468	$10,673
West Tennessee School for the Deaf	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Berryhill Drive	Jackson	38301	Madison County	West Tennessee School for the Deaf	No	No	No	Yes	(731) 423-5705	32	6	5.3	39.4%	19 (59.4%)	9 (28.1%)	2 (6.3%)	1 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.1%)								(n/a)							< 5%							< 5%							< 5%
Community Montessori School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	716 Westwood Avenue	Jackson	38301	Madison County	Jackson-Madison County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(731) 422-3116	657	43	15.2	21.1%	450 (68.5%)	139 (21.2%)	21 (3.2%)	8 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (5.9%)	65	307^th of 1019 public elementary schools	69.9%		73.8	205^th of 1009 public elementary schools	79.7%	102	30.5	55.3	59.1	41.4	50.0	42.9	47.3	53.7	65.8	47.7	50.0	62.5	53.1	55.9	43.3	59.2	50.0	46.6	56.3	49.0	51.1	50.0	78.1	55.1	62.0	$13,565	$1,006	$11,791
Arlington Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	701 Arlington Avenue	Jackson	38301	Madison County	Jackson-Madison County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(731) 265-9784	632	42	15.0	55.4%	45 (7.1%)	413 (65.3%)	108 (17.1%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (10.0%)	7.9	960^th of 1019 public elementary schools	5.8%		7.5	971^st of 1009 public elementary schools	3.8%	11	16.7	23.8	16.7				18.9	14.6	23.4	16.7				17.9	12.5	13.8	15.4				13.8					$13,365	$1,746	$10,826
Alexander Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	900 N Highland Avenue	Jackson	38301	Madison County	Jackson-Madison County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(731) 422-1841	373	27	13.6	69.3%	16 (4.3%)	291 (78.0%)	22 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	43 (11.5%)	6.6	980^th of 1019 public elementary schools	3.8%		4	1003^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	0.6%	23	20.9	18.8	11.4				17.0	16.3	8.5	8.9				11.1	16.3	< 5%	13.6				11.1					$13,736	$1,828	$10,833
Lincoln Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	532 Whitehall Street	Jackson	38301	Madison County	Jackson-Madison County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(731) 988-3800	430	25	17.2	75.7%	9 (2.1%)	382 (88.8%)	9 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.5%)	8.3	954^th of 1019 public elementary schools	6.4%		6.5	979^th of 1009 public elementary schools	3.0%	25	14.8	14.8	7.7				12.5	17.0	12.7	13.5				14.4	18.5	33.3	19.2				23.8					$13,957	$1,685	$11,239

Frequently Asked Questions about Thelma Barker Elementary School

What district is Thelma Barker Elementary School in?

Jackson-Madison County Schools

Is Thelma Barker Elementary School a good school?

Thelma Barker Elementary School ranks in the bottom 23.4% of Tennessee elementary schools.

How many students attend Thelma Barker Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 776 students attended Thelma Barker Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Thelma Barker Elementary School?

Students at Thelma Barker Elementary School are 45% African American, 29% Hispanic, 14% White, 9% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Thelma Barker Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Thelma Barker Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Madison Academic Magnet High School
High : North Side High School

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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.