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James Lawson High School

Q: Is James Lawson High School a good school?

James Lawson High School ranks in the bottom 22.0% of Tennessee high schools.

Q: How many students attend James Lawson High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,393 students attended James Lawson High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of James Lawson High School?

Students at James Lawson High School are 34% African American, 32% White, 23% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

Public Grades 9-12

312^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 22% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

James Lawson High School is a large comprehensive high school in Nashville, TN, serving 1,393 students in grades 9–12 within Metro Nashville Public Schools.

James Lawson's standout strength is that students persist to graduation. Its 92.8% graduation rate in 2024-25 outpaces both the district's 83.4% and the state's 90.5%, and its 6.9% dropout rate is dramatically lower than the district's 15.2%. In a district that ranks in the 11th percentile statewide, the school's ability to keep students on track to earn diplomas is a meaningful positive.

The school's most pressing challenge is chronic absenteeism, with 37.5% of students missing significant school time—more than double the state average of 18.3%. This likely plays a major role in test scores that trail the district in most subjects, including US History (16.4% proficient), English I (24.3%), and Integrated Math III (17.6%). Biology is the exception, with 40.7% proficiency exceeding the district's 37.7%. Nearby Harpeth High School spends less per student yet posts far higher proficiency rates and has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 17.3%.

Performance varies widely across student groups. Special education students rank in the 38th percentile statewide and White students in the 42nd, but Hispanic students rank in the 7th percentile and low-income students in the 13th, revealing equity gaps that need focused attention. Within Nashville, Hillsboro High School has a similar overall rank and attendance issues, while Nashville Big Picture High School keeps absenteeism at just 10.6%. With per-student spending of $16,116—comparable to Brentwood High School and Hillsboro—the school has adequate resources. Reducing absenteeism and closing equity gaps offer the clearest path to improvement.

1,393

Students ?

17.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,116

Per pupil spending ?

25.8%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

8001 Highway 70S
Nashville, TN 37221

(615) 353-2025

District: Metro Nashville Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

34.1%

White:

32.4%

Hispanic:

23.5%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare James Lawson High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 28th percentile in 2024 → 22nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (26% vs 46% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (38% vs 18% Tennessee)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school26%

District avg33%

Tennessee avg46%

312^th of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 22%▼ down 6 pts since 2024

From bottom 28% (2024) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^th of 29High 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	25.1	312 of 400	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.3	286 of 389	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.2	281 of 392	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	23.9	181 of 230	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.0	180 of 233	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.5	197 of 240	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	24.6	42 of 48	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.8	34 of 49	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.5	37 of 47	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	20.2	25 of 29	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	23.8	295 of 365	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.3	272 of 365	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	15.4	212 of 229	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.6	202 of 213	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.7	173 of 209	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	269 of 308	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.5	308 of 324	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	25.1	277 of 337	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	27.9	269 of 368	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.7	278 of 366	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	36.3	130 of 210	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.5	134 of 198	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.2	78 of 183	57.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	41.1	191 of 330	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.3	197 of 323	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.9	217 of 326	33.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)42nd percentile+20 vs school

Special Education (2026)38th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2025)27th percentile~ school

African American (2026)21st percentile~ school

Female (2025)19th percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)14th percentile-15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)13th percentile-9 vs school

Asian (2026)12th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2026)7th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Biology I41%-9 vs state

English II36%-22 vs state

Integrated Math II25%-7 vs state

English I24%-13 vs state

Integrated Math III18%-15 vs state

US History16%-26 vs state

Integrated Math I16%-15 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, July 29, 2025

I am incredibly thankful for this school. The administration is fantastic, and there are so many great teachers. I have two children here, including a rising, senior, and they have flourished. The school offers the most AP classes of any school in Nashville and fantastic arts and athletics. Such an asset to our community. Close Quote

Schools Near James Lawson High 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 Algebra I (2026)				TNReady Algebra II (2026)				TNReady Biology I (2026)					TNReady Integrated Math I (2026)						TNReady Integrated Math II (2026)					TNReady Integrated Math III (2026)						TNReady US History (2026)				TNReady English I (2026)					TNReady English II (2026)					TNReady Geometry (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 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	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 Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I 12th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math I 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 12th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 12th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math III 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 12th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III All Grades	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I 10th Grade	TNReady English I 11th Grade	TNReady English I 12th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 9th Grade	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II 11th Grade	TNReady English II 12th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry 12th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	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
James Lawson High School	Public	9-12	8001 Highway 70S	Nashville	37221	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(615) 353-2025	1,236	71	17.3	25.8%	445 (36.0%)	396 (32.0%)	290 (23.5%)	68 (5.5%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	32 (2.6%)	25.1	312^th of 400 public high schools	22.0%		27.3	286^th of 389 public high schools	26.5%	26																	45.6	13.3			40.7		15.7				15.5	83.3	16.2			25.1			66.7	10.1	18.2	17.6		16.0		16.4	24.5				24.3		37.3	< 5%		35.9														$16,116	$880	$14,610
Harpeth High School	Public	9-12	170 E Kingston Springs	Kingston Springs	37082	Cheatham County	Cheatham County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 952-2811	480	26	18.4	10.4%	426 (88.8%)	9 (1.9%)	34 (7.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	52.1	179^th of 400 public high schools	55.3%		62.7	106^th of 389 public high schools	72.8%	73									8.4			8.0	94.7	24.5		41.7	≥ 95%	57.1			67.8																			73.8		74.6	26.7				26.2		57.6			57.6	84.0	35.4			48.4									$12,230	$402	$11,046
Early College High School	Public	9-12	120 White Bridge Road	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(629) 999-6344	160	12	13.1	19.5%	43 (26.9%)	77 (48.1%)	31 (19.4%)	5 (3.1%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.3%)	91.6	15^th of 400 public high schools	96.3%		84.5	34^th of 389 public high schools	91.3%	19																	78.9				78.9		58.6				60.0		71.9			75.6			≥ 95%			87.5					63.2				63.2		91.3			87.5														$19,240	$893	$17,904
Nashville Big Picture High School	Public	9-12	160 Rural Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 353-2081	150	16	9.2	26.4%	18 (12.0%)	112 (74.7%)	13 (8.7%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	4 (2.7%)	27.4	297^th of 400 public high schools	25.8%		25.7	301^st of 389 public high schools	22.6%	4																		24.0			29.6		12.9				12.9		10.7			16.7				13.8		13.8		19.2		22.2	24.2				24.2		57.1			57.1														$31,197	$1,242	$29,163
W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center	Public	9-12	5200 Delaware Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 298-3278	110	14	7.7	57.4%	10 (9.1%)	88 (80.0%)	11 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10.3	374^th of 400 public high schools	6.5%					(n/a)																	< 5%	< 5%			< 5%		< 5%				< 5%		6.9			5.9				< 5%		< 5%		< 5%		< 5%	< 5%				< 5%		7.1			6.9
W. A. Bass Adult Program School	Public	9-12	5200 Delaware Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 298-3278	283	4	70.7	35.6%	35 (12.4%)	174 (61.5%)	67 (23.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)								(n/a)
Transitions at Bass School	Public	9-12	5200 Delaware Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 298-3278	20	2	8.8	77.8%	0 (0.0%)	16 (80.0%)	3 (15.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.0%)								(n/a)																																				< 5%		< 5%		< 5%		< 5%																								$51,105	$837	$49,825
MNPS Virtual School	Public, Virtual	6-12	160 Rural Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(615) 463-0188	152	17	9.0	26.0%	70 (46.1%)	60 (39.5%)	16 (10.5%)	4 (2.6%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	40.8	241^st of 400 public high schools	39.8%		48.8	184^th of 389 public high schools	52.7%	57		58.3		48.3		58.3	45.5	51.6										36.8			37.5		35.3				42.1		16.7			19.2				5.0		12.0		26.3		25.0	20.0				20.0		67.9			67.9							75.0	72.7	67.7		66.7	72.7	67.7	$22,910	$837	$21,634
The Academy at Old Cockrill	Public	9-12	610 49th Avenue	Nashville	37209	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 298-2294	31	7	4.2	50.0%	6 (19.4%)	22 (71.0%)	3 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																																						< 5%				10.0																								$61,746	$1,459	$59,833
Hillsboro High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	3812 Hillsboro PIKE	Nashville	37215	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(615) 298-8400	1,244	62	20.0	24.7%	484 (38.9%)	567 (45.6%)	125 (10.0%)	30 (2.4%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	32 (2.6%)	32.2	276^th of 400 public high schools	31.0%		30.2	271^st of 389 public high schools	30.3%	5																	34.3	18.0			29.0		9.6				9.5	64.6	14.3			23.3		≥ 95%	76.2	22.4		35.3		17.1		18.2	34.3				34.2		57.4			56.4														$15,960	$896	$14,513

Frequently Asked Questions about James Lawson High School

How many students attend James Lawson High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,393 students attended James Lawson High School.

What is the racial makeup of James Lawson High School?

Students at James Lawson High School are 34% African American, 32% White, 23% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

Is James Lawson High School a good school?

James Lawson High School ranks in the bottom 22.0% of Tennessee high schools.

What district is James Lawson High School in?

Metro Nashville Public Schools

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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.