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Carter-Lawrence Elementary School

Q: Is Carter-Lawrence Elementary School a good school?

Carter-Lawrence Elementary School ranks in the bottom 5.7% of Tennessee elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Carter-Lawrence Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 227 students attended Carter-Lawrence Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Carter-Lawrence Elementary School?

Students at Carter-Lawrence Elementary School are 87% African American, 6% Hispanic, 4% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

961^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Carter-Lawrence Elementary School is a small PK–5 school in Nashville, TN, serving 227 students as part of Metro Nashville Public Schools, a district that ranks in the bottom 11% of Tennessee districts. The school has struggled academically for years and currently sits near the bottom of the state's elementary school rankings, placing in the 6th percentile (961 out of 1,019 schools) with a 0-star rating. Proficiency rates tell a sobering story: just 13.6% of students are proficient in math, 19.4% in English language arts, and 16.7% in science—roughly half the district rate and less than half the state rate in every subject.

Chronic absenteeism is a major challenge, with 33.3% of students missing enough school to be considered chronically absent in 2024–2025, compared to 23.3% districtwide and 18.3% statewide. This matters because attendance and achievement are closely linked. The school also spends $21,626 per student—well above nearby schools that achieve far better results. Waverly-Belmont Elementary, just 1.18 miles away, spends $16,783 per student and posts 69.2% math proficiency and 72.2% ELA proficiency with an 8.4% absenteeism rate. Eakin Elementary, 1.33 miles away, spends $16,985 per student and achieves 59.0% math and 58.4% ELA proficiency. Carter-Lawrence spends thousands more per pupil and is 50+ percentage points behind these neighboring schools.

The school has also declined steadily over the past five years, falling from the 34th percentile statewide in 2020–2021 to the 6th percentile in 2025–2026. Grade-level data reveals specific concerns: math improves somewhat with grade level (from 7.1% in 3rd grade to 20.6% in 5th), but ELA drops sharply in 5th grade to just 14.7%. The school's lowest-performing subgroup is economically disadvantaged students, ranked in the 1st percentile statewide. For parents considering this school, the data points to attendance and instructional quality as the most critical areas needing attention—and the success of schools just a mile away shows that better outcomes are possible within the same district.

227

Students ?

10.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,626

Per pupil spending ?

61.7%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

1118 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 291-7333

District: Metro Nashville Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

86.8%

Hispanic:

6.2%

White:

3.5%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Carter-Lawrence Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 10th percentile in 2014 → 6th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (17% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (33% vs 18% Tennessee)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school17%

District avg33%

Tennessee avg43%

961^st of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 19 pts since 2018

From bottom 25% (2018) to bottom 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

67^th of 79Elementary Schools in the Metro Nashville Public Schools

126^th of 141Metro Nashville Public 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	7.9	961 of 1019	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.6	879 of 1009	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.0	904 of 1018	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	8.9	968 of 1020	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.0	817 of 1000	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.0	644 of 983	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.1	678 of 985	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.1	746 of 997	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	15.0	799 of 855	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	16.2	765 of 853	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	25.7	754 of 846	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	48.8	460 of 820	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.6	543 of 818	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	22.3	681 of 809	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	15.5	445 of 498	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.4	410 of 498	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.0	452 of 498	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.9	453 of 500	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	36.8	279 of 483	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.4	131 of 411	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.8	189 of 404	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.3	226 of 450	49.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2018	26.1	87 of 95	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	13.5	888 of 986	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.5	927 of 990	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.7	883 of 989	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.8	824 of 975	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.7	810 of 945	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.9	609 of 926	34.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	9.8	812 of 823	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.8	789 of 843	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.3	829 of 853	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.2	863 of 865	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.8	758 of 858	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.6	659 of 823	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.0	573 of 821	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	18.4	809 of 877	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	791 of 984	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.5	755 of 991	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	8.0	957 of 987	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	23.6	763 of 980	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	57.4	320 of 941	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.3	661 of 916	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2025)20th percentile+7 vs school

African American (2026)11th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)10th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2018)8th percentile-17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)1st percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts19%-21 vs state

Science17%-30 vs state

Mathematics14%-29 vs state

★

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Schools Near Carter-Lawrence 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
Carter-Lawrence Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1118 12th Avenue South	Nashville	37203	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 291-7333	199	20	10.2	61.7%	8 (4.0%)	169 (84.9%)	15 (7.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.0%)	7.9	961^st of 1019 public elementary schools	5.7%		15.6	879^th of 1009 public elementary schools	12.9%	82	7.1	14.8	20.6				13.6	21.4	22.2	14.7				19.4	16.7	15.4	17.6				16.7					$21,626	$2,274	$18,177
Waverly-Belmont Elementary School	Public	K-5	2301 10th Ave South	Nashville	37204	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 800-7690	528	33	16.2	19.6%	257 (48.7%)	187 (35.4%)	41 (7.8%)	9 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.3%)	89.2	95^th of 1019 public elementary schools	90.7%		81	145^th of 1009 public elementary schools	85.6%	50	65.9	76.9	64.4				69.2	71.6	80.6	63.5				72.2	65.9	66.7	58.6				63.8					$16,783	$837	$15,120
Eakin Elementary School	Public	K-5	2500 Fairfax Avenue	Nashville	37212	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 298-8076	544	29	18.7	17.5%	230 (42.3%)	177 (32.5%)	36 (6.6%)	56 (10.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (7.9%)	76	188^th of 1019 public elementary schools	81.6%		83.9	130^th of 1009 public elementary schools	87.1%	58	40.0	65.3	68.7				59.0	54.1	61.2	59.0				58.4	51.4	61.9	57.3				57.3					$16,985	$972	$15,171
Fall-Hamilton Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	510 Wedgewood Avenue	Nashville	37203	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 291-6380	265	24	11.2	51.3%	17 (6.4%)	184 (69.4%)	53 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.0%)	20.4	852^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	16.4%		24.7	797^th of 1009 public elementary schools	21.0%	55	14.8	44.8	20.5				26.3	14.8	44.8	15.4				24.2	7.4	48.3	20.5				25.3					$21,650	$1,512	$18,774
Napier Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	70 Donelson Street	Nashville	37210	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 291-6400	289	20	14.2	80.0%	7 (2.4%)	246 (85.1%)	23 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (4.2%)	3.3	1015^th of 1019 public elementary schools	0.4%		5.1	994^th of 1009 public elementary schools	1.5%	21	7.3	7.9	< 5%				6.0	12.2	10.3	< 5%				8.5	15.0	5.3	5.3				8.6					$22,459	$1,971	$19,025
Explore Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	707 S 7th Street	Nashville	37206	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(615) 784-8222	560	30	18.6	47.5%	157 (28.0%)	330 (58.9%)	32 (5.7%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	35 (6.3%)	38.3	655^th of 1019 public elementary schools	35.7%		31.8	715^th of 1009 public elementary schools	29.1%	60	33.3	36.4	50.8	14.1	7.9	21.7	28.9	34.3	21.8	55.6	29.7	10.5	19.1	30.5	34.8	41.8	54.0	33.3	34.2	30.4	38.7	35.5	36.8	26.7	33.1	$27,355	$1,925	$24,185
Warner Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	626 Russell Street	Nashville	37206	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 291-6395	390	28	14.1	55.1%	65 (16.7%)	297 (76.2%)	8 (2.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (4.4%)	27.4	779^th of 1019 public elementary schools	23.6%		29.6	744^th of 1009 public elementary schools	26.3%	35	32.1	23.3	26.8				27.8	40.7	35.0	33.8				36.8	32.1	30.0	29.6				30.7					$19,155	$1,651	$16,499
Park Avenue Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3703 Park Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 298-8412	330	22	14.7	62.8%	22 (6.7%)	269 (81.5%)	24 (7.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	5.3	1002^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	1.7%		5.6	991^st of 1009 public elementary schools	1.8%	11	5.1	17.9	14.3				12.5	7.5	20.5	< 5%				10.7	10.0	17.9	< 5%				10.7					$21,145	$1,611	$18,068
KIPP Kirkpatrick Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-4	1000 Sevier Street	Nashville	37206	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(615) 226-4484	330	14	23.5	81.1%	9 (2.7%)	286 (86.7%)	22 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.9%)	22.4	829^th of 1019 public elementary schools	18.6%		18.7	851^st of 1009 public elementary schools	15.7%	22	16.4	40.8					28.9	27.4	28.9					28.2	21.9	42.1					32.2					$19,638	$2,177	$16,747
Ida B. Wells Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	244 Foster Street	Nashville	37207	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 291-6361	204	18	11.6	73.0%	6 (2.9%)	178 (87.3%)	13 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)	12.6	914^th of 1019 public elementary schools	10.3%		18.4	855^th of 1009 public elementary schools	15.3%	59	31.6	24.4	25.7				27.1	25.6	20.0	14.3				20.2	23.1	13.3	11.4				16.0					$20,928	$1,588	$18,155

Frequently Asked Questions about Carter-Lawrence Elementary School

What district is Carter-Lawrence Elementary School in?

Metro Nashville Public Schools

Is Carter-Lawrence Elementary School a good school?

Carter-Lawrence Elementary School ranks in the bottom 5.7% of Tennessee elementary schools.

How many students attend Carter-Lawrence Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 227 students attended Carter-Lawrence Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Carter-Lawrence Elementary School?

Students at Carter-Lawrence Elementary School are 87% African American, 6% Hispanic, 4% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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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.