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Rhea Central Elementary

Q: Is Rhea Central Elementary a good school?

Rhea Central Elementary ranks 496 th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

496^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,009 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 51% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Rhea Central Elementary is a public elementary school in Dayton, Tennessee, serving 613 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Rhea County School District, which is ranked 40 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Rhea Central Elementary has consistently performed in the top 50% of Tennessee elementary schools over the past five years, with strong results in English Language Arts (ELA) for 4th grade and Mathematics for 5th grade. The school particularly excels in supporting English Language Learner (ELL) and Special Education students, ranking in the top 10-20% of Tennessee elementary schools for these subgroups. However, the school's performance for White and Low Socioeconomic Status (SES) students is more average, suggesting an opportunity to improve outcomes for these groups.

One area of concern is the significant increase in chronic absenteeism at Rhea Central Elementary, rising from 9.8% in 2020-2021 to 20.2% in 2022-2023, which is higher than the state average of around 15%. The school generally outperforms nearby Graysville Elementary and Frazier Elementary, but lags behind some higher-performing schools in neighboring districts, such as Soddy Elementary and North Hamilton County Elementary.

589

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,863

Per pupil spending ?

80.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1005 Delaware AVE
Dayton, TN 37321

(423) 775-7842

District: Rhea County

Students who attend Rhea Central Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Rhea Middle School
High:	Rhea County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.2%

Hispanic:

23.9%

African American:

1.0%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Rhea Central Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 36th percentile in 2018 → 51st in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2018

✓Above the Tennessee median (51st percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Near the bottom of Rhea County's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school42%

District avg48%

Tennessee avg42%

496^th of 1,009

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 49%▲ up 15 pts since 2018

From bottom 36% (2018) to top 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Rhea County

40^th of 139Rhea County 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
2025	49.1	496 of 1009	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.6	429 of 1018	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.3	455 of 1020	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.2	498 of 1000	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.6	421 of 983	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.0	571 of 985	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.6	637 of 997	36.1%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2022	54.7	46 of 165	72.1%	★★★★☆
2021	70.9	10 of 101	90.1%	★★★★★
2018	61.1	18 of 95	81.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	44.3	545 of 986	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.1	393 of 990	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.1	415 of 989	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.5	454 of 975	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.8	441 of 945	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.4	568 of 926	38.7%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	49.6	192 of 424	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.1	160 of 415	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.0	172 of 387	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.2	173 of 363	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.8	120 of 324	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.0	176 of 250	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.5	189 of 319	40.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	51.1	385 of 843	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.1	180 of 853	78.9%	★★★★☆
2023	45.6	459 of 865	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.8	588 of 858	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.2	198 of 823	75.9%	★★★★☆
2019	45.6	439 of 821	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.6	474 of 877	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	52.3	440 of 984	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.7	461 of 991	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.1	497 of 987	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.8	524 of 980	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.7	389 of 941	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.3	532 of 916	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	68.6	104 of 618	83.2%	★★★★☆
2024	25.6	474 of 582	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.8	413 of 528	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	38.7	517 of 840	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.0	483 of 847	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.3	453 of 852	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.7	497 of 844	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.0	442 of 844	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.4	576 of 812	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.6	679 of 841	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2025)83rd percentile+32 vs school

English Language Learner (2022)72nd percentile+22 vs school

Male (2025)55th percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)55th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)54th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)45th percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)38th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics45%+3 vs state

English Language Arts43%+4 vs state

Science39%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rhea Central Elementary

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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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)							TNReady English Language Arts (2025)							TNReady Science (2025)							TNReady Social Studies (2025)				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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Rhea Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1005 Delaware AVE	Dayton	37321	Rhea County	Rhea County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 775-7842	613	54	11.4		464 (75.7%)	6 (1.0%)	136 (22.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.1%)	49.1	496^th of 1009 public elementary schools	50.8%		53.6	429^th of 1018 public elementary schools	57.9%	67	37.8	42.9	55.4				45.4	32.2	51.1	45.7				43.1	24.4	48.4	43.5				38.8					$15,863	$1,409	$13,397
Dayton City Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	520 Cherry ST	Dayton	37321	Rhea County	Dayton	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 775-8414	863	59	14.7		653 (75.7%)	37 (4.3%)	129 (14.9%)	16 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (3.2%)	56.1	407^th of 1009 public elementary schools	59.7%		52.1	445^th of 1018 public elementary schools	56.3%	38	40.7	42.9	44.9	46.3	44.8	56.0	45.6	39.6	48.0	50.0	41.3	45.8	40.0	44.1	41.8	46.9	42.0	46.3	60.4	46.7	47.7	58.8	65.6	56.0	60.6	$12,532	$960	$10,527
Graysville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	606 Long ST	Dayton	37321	Rhea County	Rhea County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 775-7850	215	19	11.3		193 (89.8%)	3 (1.4%)	17 (7.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	32.5	706^th of 1009 public elementary schools	30.0%		48.7	489^th of 1018 public elementary schools	52.0%	217	37.5	50.0	31.3				39.6	18.8	46.9	15.6				27.1	18.8	53.1	25.0				32.3					$16,203	$1,211	$13,739
Frazier Elementary	Public	K-5	3900 Double S RD	Dayton	37321	Rhea County	Rhea County	No	No	No	No	(423) 775-7854	322	23	14.0		282 (87.6%)	3 (0.9%)	23 (7.1%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.7%)	64.2	313^th of 1009 public elementary schools	69.0%		73.1	212^th of 1018 public elementary schools	79.2%	101	54.4	33.3	53.7				46.7	49.1	51.9	48.8				50.0	38.6	61.1	73.2				55.9					$14,360	$834	$12,632
Cecil B Rigsby Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8231 New Harmony RD	Pikeville	37367	Bledsoe County	Bledsoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 447-2891	181	12	15.0		143 (79.0%)	3 (1.7%)	34 (18.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	46.5	526^th of 1009 public elementary schools	47.9%		32	713^th of 1018 public elementary schools	30.0%	187	46.9	40.0	50.0				45.8	40.6	26.3	40.0				36.6	40.6	25.0	50.0				38.9					$16,382	$2,335	$12,283
Meigs South Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9638 State Highway 58 S	Decatur	37322	Meigs County	Meigs County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 334-5444	406	29	14.0		375 (92.4%)	6 (1.5%)	14 (3.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.5%)	40.4	605^th of 1009 public elementary schools	40.0%		35.7	668^th of 1018 public elementary schools	34.4%	63	25.0	26.4	37.2				29.1	37.7	49.1	37.2				41.6	32.7	49.1	48.8				43.2					$12,760	$1,156	$10,819
Pikeville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	41068 S R 30	Pikeville	37367	Bledsoe County	Bledsoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 447-2457	401	28	14.5		371 (92.5%)	5 (1.2%)	19 (4.7%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	54.6	424^th of 1009 public elementary schools	58.0%		55.6	403^rd of 1018 public elementary schools	60.4%	21	32.7	40.0	52.7				42.0	36.5	47.3	41.8				42.0	48.1	46.3	65.5				53.4					$17,416	$2,986	$12,718
North Hamilton County Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	601 Industrial BLVD	Sale Creek	37373	Hamilton County	Hamilton County	No	No	No	No	(423) 332-8848	374	26	14.5		333 (89.0%)	6 (1.6%)	20 (5.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.7%)	77.5	172^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	83.0%		74	204^th of 1018 public elementary schools	80.0%	32	58.5	52.9	65.7				59.0	46.9	55.1	55.2				52.5	58.5	61.8	66.2				62.1					$17,270	$873	$15,631
Meigs North Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	22015 State Highway 58 N	Decatur	37322	Meigs County	Meigs County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 334-5454	446	31	14.2		419 (93.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.8%)	53	450^th of 1009 public elementary schools	55.4%		45.1	543^rd of 1018 public elementary schools	46.7%	93	49.3	27.6	19.7				33.3	43.8	46.6	29.5				40.1	67.1	60.3	49.2				59.4					$12,435	$1,377	$10,193
Mary V Wheeler Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	33073 Sr 30	Pikeville	37367	Bledsoe County	Bledsoe County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 881-3394	214	16	13.3		204 (95.3%)	3 (1.4%)	7 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50.2	484^th of 1009 public elementary schools	52.0%		35.2	677^th of 1018 public elementary schools	33.5%	193	42.4	32.4	68.4				44.2	39.4	44.1	57.9				45.3	33.3	47.1	47.4				41.9					$15,664	$1,855	$12,269

Frequently Asked Questions about Rhea Central Elementary

Is Rhea Central Elementary a good school?

Rhea Central Elementary ranks 496^th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Rhea Central Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 589 students attended Rhea Central Elementary.

What district is Rhea Central Elementary in?

Rhea County

What schools do graduates of Rhea Central Elementary attend?

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

Middle : Rhea Middle School
High : Rhea County High School

What is the racial makeup of Rhea Central Elementary?

Students at Rhea Central Elementary are 74% White, 24% Hispanic, 1% African American.

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

2024–25 graduation ratesOct 28, 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.