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John Colemon Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

778^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

John Colemon Elementary School in Smyrna, TN, serves 861 students in grades PK–5 as part of Rutherford County Schools. Academically, the school has faced recent challenges: it currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 24th percentile among Tennessee elementary schools, a decline from its 3-star rating in 2022–23. Proficiency rates lag behind both district and state averages—33% of students are proficient in math (district: 53.6%, state: 43%), 26.4% in English language arts (district: 47%, state: 40.6%), and 36.8% in science (district: 53.3%, state: 46.9%).

Despite these academic struggles, the school has notable strengths. Chronic absenteeism is a clear bright spot: just 8.2% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25, far better than the state average of 18.3% and below the district's 11.3%. The school also shows strong results for specific student groups—its African American students have ranked in the 60th–65th percentile statewide over the past three years, a standout outcome given the school's overall 24th-percentile ranking. Additionally, students make meaningful progress by upper elementary: 5th graders exceeded the state average in science (51.5% vs. 46.5%) and nearly matched it in math (44.1% vs. 47.4%).

Parents may find the comparison to nearby Stewartsboro Elementary School particularly instructive. The two schools serve nearly identical enrollments (861 vs. 854) and spend about the same per student ($13,018 vs. $12,992), yet Stewartsboro ranked in the 79th percentile with 67.5% math proficiency versus John Colemon's 33%. John Colemon's per-student spending is also below several local peers like Smyrna Elementary School ($15,585) and Cedar Grove Elementary School ($14,960). For families, this picture suggests a school with real academic challenges, but also strong attendance, promising upper-grade momentum, and clear opportunities to learn from higher-performing schools in the same district.

861

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,018

Per pupil spending ?

69.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1098 Espey Drive
Smyrna, TN 37167

(615) 904-6740

District: Rutherford County Schools

Students who attend John Colemon Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Smyrna Middle School
High:	Smyrna High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

55.6%

White:

22.5%

African American:

14.1%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare John Colemon Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 23rd percentile in 2015 → 24th in 2026

Worth a look

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

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 14 pts below the Tennessee average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg51%

Tennessee avg43%

778^th of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▲ up 15 pts since 2017

From bottom 9% (2017) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

19^th of 25Elementary Schools in the Rutherford County Schools

44^th of 141Rutherford 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	27.5	778 of 1019	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.2	642 of 1009	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.5	655 of 1018	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.4	492 of 1020	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.0	529 of 1000	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.6	407 of 983	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.8	545 of 985	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.7	603 of 997	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	19.1	591 of 646	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	34.1	659 of 855	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	45.9	491 of 853	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	56.2	455 of 846	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.6	600 of 820	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	40.3	548 of 818	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	15.5	733 of 809	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	54.1	200 of 498	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.9	172 of 498	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.1	181 of 498	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.6	120 of 500	76.0%	★★★★☆
2022	63.2	122 of 483	74.7%	★★★★☆
2021	69.8	85 of 411	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	75.3	65 of 404	83.9%	★★★★☆
2018	56.6	150 of 450	66.7%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	35.1	147 of 211	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.2	153 of 178	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.1	121 of 164	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.8	120 of 165	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	56.6	22 of 101	78.2%	★★★★☆
2019	21.7	65 of 66	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	32.2	696 of 986	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.3	714 of 990	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	56.6	363 of 989	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.5	394 of 975	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.5	290 of 945	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.1	589 of 926	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	38.0	292 of 458	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.7	246 of 424	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.6	328 of 415	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	46.7	188 of 387	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.9	179 of 363	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.6	117 of 324	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.1	132 of 250	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.7	187 of 319	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	39.4	530 of 823	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	65.2	202 of 843	76.0%	★★★★☆
2024	47.0	430 of 853	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.0	342 of 865	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.0	226 of 858	73.7%	★★★★☆
2021	70.9	124 of 823	84.9%	★★★★☆
2019	59.3	245 of 821	70.2%	★★★★☆
2018	43.2	495 of 877	43.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	42.3	568 of 984	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.5	575 of 991	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.0	611 of 987	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.0	635 of 980	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.6	492 of 941	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.6	437 of 916	52.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	24.4	697 of 849	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	48.0	413 of 840	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.9	387 of 847	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.7	285 of 852	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.3	358 of 844	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.7	294 of 844	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.9	581 of 812	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.5	434 of 841	48.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)60th percentile+36 vs school

Male (2025)42nd percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)36th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)36th percentile+12 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)30th percentile-6 vs school

Female (2025)29th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)18th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Science37%-10 vs state

Mathematics33%-10 vs state

English Language Arts26%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near John Colemon 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 Algebra I (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	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2020)	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 Algebra I 7th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Geometry 8th Grade	TNReady Geometry 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
John Colemon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1098 Espey Drive	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-6740	625	46	13.7	69.4%	197 (31.5%)	119 (19.0%)	247 (39.5%)	23 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	34 (5.4%)	27.5	778^th of 1019 public elementary schools	23.7%		37.2	642^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	36.4%	136	26.8	31.2	44.1				33.0	20.4	28.6	31.7				26.4						31.0	31.9	51.5				36.8					$13,018	$1,012	$11,310
Smyrna Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1001 Sam Davis Road	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-6725	767	57	13.4	73.6%	179 (23.3%)	74 (9.6%)	453 (59.1%)	31 (4.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	27 (3.5%)	38.1	656^th of 1019 public elementary schools	35.6%		43.4	554^th of 1009 public elementary schools	45.1%	102	29.6	34.4	53.8				39.1	39.2	32.2	41.9				37.9						32.7	28.9	47.3				36.3					$15,585	$1,054	$13,673
Smyrna Primary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Walnut Street	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 459-3161	597	38	15.7	61.2%	198 (33.2%)	96 (16.1%)	190 (31.8%)	70 (11.7%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.0%)	36 (6.0%)	25	805^th of 1019 public elementary schools	21.0%		36.8	653^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	35.3%	152	34.1	27.8	27.8				29.8	32.6	32.3	25.6				30.2						32.6	33.0	34.4				33.3					$14,864	$817	$13,260
Springs Public Schools Tennessee Empower Academy	Public, Charter	K-6	198 Culbertson Street	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(615) 237-7170	0											21.2	844^th of 1019 public elementary schools	17.2%					(n/a)	22.7	11.5	37.5	6.7			19.0	36.4	11.5	37.5	13.3			24.1						36.4	38.5	43.8	13.3			34.2	6.7			6.7	$12,287	$297	$11,162
David Youree Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	250 Todd Lane	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 459-3492	725	50	14.5	66.6%	183 (25.2%)	209 (28.8%)	245 (33.8%)	31 (4.3%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	50 (6.9%)	13	908^th of 1019 public elementary schools	10.9%		18.3	856^th of 1009 public elementary schools	15.2%	52	23.6	29.2	14.8				22.3	17.0	27.1	22.2				21.9						20.8	28.1	19.4				22.6					$13,611	$1,071	$11,704
Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts	Public, Magnet	K-8	221 Todd Lane	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(615) 904-6715	662	43	15.5	14.6%	450 (68.0%)	103 (15.6%)	42 (6.3%)	30 (4.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.1%)								(n/a)	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	93.8	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	$11,712	$348	$10,763
LaVergne Lake Elementary School	Public	K-5	201 David's Way	La Vergne	37086	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-6730	885	62	14.3	66.3%	194 (21.9%)	251 (28.4%)	382 (43.2%)	23 (2.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (3.7%)	22.6	827^th of 1019 public elementary schools	18.8%		18.5	854^th of 1009 public elementary schools	15.4%	27	30.8	28.3	33.8				30.8	27.1	29.1	26.4				27.5						27.1	37.6	27.7				30.8					$12,904	$893	$11,224
Stewartsboro Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10479 Old Nashville Highway	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-6705	800	53	15.2	49.9%	405 (50.6%)	91 (11.4%)	223 (27.9%)	25 (3.1%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	50 (6.3%)	73.7	210^th of 1019 public elementary schools	79.4%		69.7	240^th of 1009 public elementary schools	76.2%	30	63.8	67.2	71.2				67.5	52.6	44.5	52.8				50.0						62.1	47.1	55.2				54.7					$12,992	$559	$11,705
Cedar Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	354 Chaney Road	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-3777	902	64	14.0	70.4%	257 (28.5%)	131 (14.5%)	439 (48.7%)	38 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	34 (3.8%)	46	545^th of 1019 public elementary schools	46.5%		50.3	482^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	52.2%	63	38.7	54.9	45.2				46.3	37.1	51.6	34.8				41.3						37.1	44.3	36.5				39.3					$14,960	$980	$13,193
Roy L Waldron Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	125 Floyd Mayfield Drive	La Vergne	37086	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-3785	1,332	84	15.8	70.6%	263 (19.7%)	357 (26.8%)	644 (48.3%)	18 (1.4%)	5 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	43 (3.2%)	16.6	880^th of 1019 public elementary schools	13.6%		19.8	843^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	16.5%	37	22.4	26.4	29.2				25.9	20.9	27.8	22.7				23.7						22.6	31.2	28.6				27.3					$14,826	$1,216	$12,798

Frequently Asked Questions about John Colemon Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of John Colemon Elementary School?

Students at John Colemon Elementary School are 56% Hispanic, 23% White, 14% African American, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Is John Colemon Elementary School a good school?

John Colemon Elementary School ranks in the bottom 23.7% of Tennessee elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of John Colemon Elementary School attend?

Students who attend John Colemon Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Smyrna Middle School
High : Smyrna High School

How many students attend John Colemon Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 861 students attended John Colemon Elementary School.

What district is John Colemon Elementary School in?

Rutherford County 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.