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Smyrna West Alternative School

Public Grades 6-12

345^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 14% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Smyrna West Alternative School in Smyrna, TN, is a very small alternative school within Rutherford County Schools serving grades 6–12 with just 47 students, and it faces far greater challenges than the large comprehensive high schools nearby. The school earned a 1-star rating in 2025–26, ranking 345th out of 400 Tennessee schools (14th percentile)—a meaningful improvement from the prior year's 2nd percentile, but still far below the district's overall 44th-place ranking among 141 Tennessee districts. Unlike neighboring schools like Blackman High School (92nd percentile) and Nolensville High School (94th percentile), which each serve more than 1,400 students, Smyrna West's small size and alternative mission mean its test scores reflect a student population that has often struggled in traditional school settings.

The school's most severe challenge is chronic absenteeism: in 2024–25, 71.4% of students were chronically absent, compared to 11.3% for the district and 18.3% statewide. That rate is dramatically higher than nearby schools, including Antioch High School at 45.4% and Lavergne High School at 17.9%. Academic proficiency is also far below district and state averages in every subject—just 9.7% of students scored proficient in English Language Arts (versus 47.0% districtwide) and 7.1% in Algebra I (versus 39.9% districtwide). Even the school's relative bright spots, such as English II at 25% proficiency and Biology I at 23.1%, remain roughly 33 points below state averages.

There are some encouraging signs. The student–teacher ratio is exceptionally low at 5.4 to 1, suggesting intensive individualized attention, and the state rank jumped from the 2nd percentile in 2024–25 to the 14th percentile in 2025–26, with Biology I proficiency rising from 5.9% to 23.1%. However, with only 47 students, small year-to-year changes can produce large percentage swings, so this improvement should be viewed cautiously. The data strongly suggests that improving attendance is the school's most important lever; no amount of small-class instruction can fully overcome seven in ten students missing significant school time. Notably, Smyrna West does not report graduation rates, poverty data, or per-student spending, making it difficult to assess whether the school's resources match the extraordinary needs of its students.

Students ?

5.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

76.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12619 Old Nashville Highway
Smyrna, TN 37167

(615) 904-3856

District: Rutherford County Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

42.6%

White:

27.7%

Hispanic:

19.1%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Smyrna West Alternative School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 9th percentile in 2022 → 14th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2022

✓Small classes — about 5 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (14% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (71% vs 18% Tennessee)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school14%

District avg53%

Tennessee avg44%

Middle school

577^th of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Bottom 3%

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

345^th of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 14%▲ up 5 pts since 2022

From bottom 9% (2022) to bottom 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 11High 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)

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	16.3	345 of 400	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	7.4	383 of 389	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.8	370 of 392	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.6	365 of 384	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.7	327 of 358	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	17.8	314 of 366	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

High school

Male (2024)14th percentile+9 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English II25%-33 vs state

Biology I23%-27 vs state

Algebra II18%-19 vs state

Science16%-31 vs state

Social Studies16%-35 vs state

US History15%-27 vs state

English I13%-24 vs state

English Language Arts10%-31 vs state

Algebra I7%-25 vs state

Mathematics7%-33 vs state

★

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Schools Near Smyrna West Alternative 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	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 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	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 9th 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 9th 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 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 11th 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 All Grades	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 All Grades	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
Smyrna West Alternative School	Public	6-12	12619 Old Nashville Highway	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-3856	71	13	5.4	76.1%	17 (23.9%)	24 (33.8%)	21 (29.6%)	3 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (8.5%)	16.3	345^th of 400 public high schools	13.8%		7.4	383^rd of 389 public high schools	1.5%	38			6.7					13.3		9.7		7.1		20.0		18.2		25.0			23.1												16.7		15.4	16.7	13.3	25.0			25.0							20.0	7.1	16.1		20.0	7.1	16.1
Smyrna High School	Public	9-12	100 Bulldog Drive	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-3865	2,254	135	16.7	51.2%	781 (34.6%)	435 (19.3%)	824 (36.6%)	132 (5.9%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	78 (3.5%)	50.5	190^th of 400 public high schools	52.5%		45.2	195^th of 389 public high schools	49.9%	5											18.8	18.6	94.9	26.0	13.0	33.2	78.8	42.9	18.2		46.2											63.6	36.9		36.9	40.8	40.7	57.2	12.5		55.8		34.1	17.6	39.8										$11,440	$358	$10,592
Lavergne High School	Public	9-12	250 Wolverine Trail	La Vergne	37086	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-3870	2,115	130	16.2	60.2%	396 (18.7%)	588 (27.8%)	1,014 (47.9%)	54 (2.6%)	4 (0.2%)	4 (0.2%)	55 (2.6%)	32	277^th of 400 public high schools	30.8%		33.3	262^nd of 389 public high schools	32.6%	15											9.3	9.4	78.3	13.1		16.3		42.1	9.1		44.2												23.4		23.3	35.3	35.1	50.6			45.2	88.9	20.1		23.5										$11,275	$392	$10,439
Stewarts Creek High School	Public	9-12	301 Red Hawk Parkway	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-6771	2,446	144	17.0	25.3%	1,413 (57.8%)	399 (16.3%)	421 (17.2%)	124 (5.1%)	3 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	86 (3.5%)	74.6	66^th of 400 public high schools	83.5%		71.8	70^th of 389 public high schools	82.0%	4											30.1	30.0		48.2		55.2	89.6	20.6	30.0		73.5											50.0	50.7	37.5	50.1	53.0	52.7	72.5	6.1		68.5		38.3	17.6	43.6										$10,804	$297	$10,172
Antioch High School	Public	9-12	1900 Hobson Pike	Antioch	37013	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 641-5400	2,131	128	16.6		254 (11.9%)	665 (31.2%)	1,115 (52.3%)	61 (2.9%)	1 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	34 (1.6%)	30.1	285^th of 400 public high schools	28.8%		24.1	306^th of 389 public high schools	21.3%	21																	25.0	33.6	17.6	60.0	33.5	17.2	15.7	14.3	25.7			24.5	25.0	26.4	26.4		23.5	28.6	23.5	15.7	15.5	39.1	5.4	7.7	30.9														$15,541	$1,135	$13,743
Cane Ridge High School	Public	9-12	12848 Old Hickory Boulevard	Antioch	37013	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 687-4000	1,943	95	20.5		231 (11.9%)	760 (39.1%)	781 (40.2%)	127 (6.5%)	4 (0.2%)	4 (0.2%)	36 (1.9%)	26.5	302^nd of 400 public high schools	24.5%		13.3	353^rd of 389 public high schools	9.3%	51																	81.8	21.3	26.7		28.2	9.2	9.1	79.2	21.5	27.3	20.0	25.1	69.7	23.7	27.9	27.9	25.0	26.9	25.5	14.5	14.3	32.4	18.2		30.3														$16,342	$1,308	$14,328
Nolensville High School	Public	9-12	1600 Summerlyn Drive	Nolensville	37135	Williamson County	Williamson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 472-5200	1,486	80	18.6	5.9%	1,127 (75.8%)	91 (6.1%)	105 (7.1%)	104 (7.0%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (3.8%)	88.5	23^rd of 400 public high schools	94.3%		93.6	8^th of 389 public high schools	97.9%	15											39.1	39.0		64.3		74.3	72.1				71.1												71.7		71.7	60.8	60.9	88.2			87.6		68.4		75.3										$11,945	$218	$11,173
Blackman High School	Public	9-12	3956 Blaze Drive	Murfreesboro	37128	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-3850	2,233	134	16.7	21.6%	1,114 (49.9%)	485 (21.7%)	372 (16.7%)	130 (5.8%)	7 (0.3%)	3 (0.1%)	122 (5.5%)	83.9	34^th of 400 public high schools	91.5%		71.8	71^st of 389 public high schools	81.7%	37											39.4	38.7		49.4	7.1	55.8	89.8	49.1	18.2		65.4												61.4	25.0	60.5	56.8	56.4	71.8			71.2		51.1		55.1										$10,860	$333	$10,196
Intrepid College Preparatory Charter School	Public, Charter	5-12	5432 Bell Forge Lane East	Antioch	37013	Davidson County	Metro Nashville Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(615) 200-0131	855	56	15.2	50.8%	78 (9.1%)	136 (15.9%)	629 (73.6%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.7%)	37.3	252^nd of 400 public high schools	37.0%		39.6	226^th of 389 public high schools	41.9%	26	25.8	12.4	13.8	32.5	20.2	16.1	19.5	17.2	17.9	18.0	23.5	23.5		21.6		21.6	44.4				41.8												37.3		37.3	23.2	23.2	50.0			49.1		34.7		34.7	19.4	27.4	50.9	46.2	39.8	47.8	57.8	46.2	50.6	$20,219	$1,349	$17,859
Siegel High School	Public	9-12	3300 Siegel Road	Murfreesboro	37129	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-3800	1,873	121	15.4	27.3%	1,179 (62.9%)	310 (16.6%)	253 (13.5%)	45 (2.4%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	80 (4.3%)	74.8	65^th of 400 public high schools	83.8%		76.9	51^st of 389 public high schools	86.9%	14											31.0	30.6	94.1	35.5		43.9		53.3	10.5		58.9												63.9	65.2	63.7	50.2	50.1	69.7			69.2		40.7		45.9										$12,148	$470	$11,266

Frequently Asked Questions about Smyrna West Alternative School

Is Smyrna West Alternative School a good school?

Smyrna West Alternative School ranks in the bottom 13.8% of Tennessee high schools.

How many students attend Smyrna West Alternative School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 47 students attended Smyrna West Alternative School.

What district is Smyrna West Alternative School in?

Rutherford County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Smyrna West Alternative School?

Students at Smyrna West Alternative School are 43% African American, 28% White, 19% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresNewAug 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.