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Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts

Public, Magnet Grades K-8

Summary

Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts is a high-performing elementary school serving grades K-8 in Smyrna, Tennessee, part of the Rutherford County school district. With a diverse student population, the school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Tennessee, delivering exceptional academic achievement across all subject areas and grade levels.

Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts stands out for its strong academic performance, particularly for specific student subgroups. The school ranks 1st in Tennessee for both female and male students, as well as for African American students, indicating its ability to effectively support the academic growth of these populations. As a magnet school for the arts, the school's specialized focus on integrating arts-based learning across the curriculum likely contributes to its strong academic outcomes and attracts families seeking an arts-enriched education.

When compared to nearby elementary schools in the Rutherford County district, such as Stewarts Creek Elementary School, Rock Springs Elementary, and Roy L Waldron Elementary, Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts significantly outperforms its peers across all subject areas and grade levels. This sustained excellence over an extended period, along with the school's ability to provide an equitable and inclusive learning environment, makes it a standout educational institution within the Rutherford County district and the state of Tennessee.

732

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,712

Per pupil spending ?

14.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

221 Todd LN
Smyrna, TN 37167

(615) 904-6715

District: Rutherford County

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.5%

African American:

16.8%

Hispanic:

7.8%

See top rated Tennessee public schools

Compare Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 95th percentile in 2013 → 100th in 2024

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (95% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school95%

District avg59%

Tennessee avg47%

Not ranked this year

Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

39^th of 139Rutherford 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	99.6	3 of 1018	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	99.7	1 of 1020	99.9%	★★★★★
2022	99.7	3 of 1000	99.7%	★★★★★
2021	99.9	3 of 983	99.7%	★★★★★
2019	95.3	47 of 985	95.2%	★★★★★
2018	93.5	53 of 997	94.7%	★★★★★
2017	87.2	35 of 646	94.6%	★★★★★
2015	91.0	40 of 855	95.3%	★★★★★
2014	87.8	45 of 853	94.7%	★★★★★
2013	90.0	46 of 846	94.6%	★★★★★
2012	86.6	95 of 820	88.4%	★★★★☆
2011	89.2	80 of 818	90.2%	★★★★★
2010	98.5	18 of 809	97.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	99.9	1 of 498	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	99.9	1 of 498	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	100.0	1 of 500	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 483	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	100.0	1 of 411	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	96.7	6 of 404	98.5%	★★★★★
2018	89.6	28 of 450	93.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	99.4	1 of 986	99.9%	★★★★★
2024	99.5	1 of 990	99.9%	★★★★★
2023	99.4	2 of 989	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	99.4	1 of 975	99.9%	★★★★★
2021	99.5	4 of 945	99.6%	★★★★★
2019	95.8	34 of 926	96.3%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2019	78.8	31 of 250	87.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2019	67.0	159 of 821	80.6%	★★★★☆
2018	81.2	66 of 877	92.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	99.8	1 of 991	99.9%	★★★★★
2023	99.6	2 of 987	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	99.5	4 of 980	99.6%	★★★★★
2021	99.9	2 of 941	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	91.1	64 of 916	93.0%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	99.2	2 of 847	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	99.3	1 of 852	99.9%	★★★★★
2022	99.3	3 of 844	99.6%	★★★★★
2021	99.7	4 of 844	99.5%	★★★★★
2019	94.3	45 of 812	94.5%	★★★★★
2018	94.8	40 of 841	95.2%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	99.6	2 of 587	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	99.8	1 of 594	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	99.9	1 of 569	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	99.9	1 of 576	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	99.5	2 of 574	99.7%	★★★★★
2018	99.0	3 of 563	99.5%	★★★★★
2015	95.5	2 of 492	99.6%	★★★★★
2014	94.7	1 of 485	99.8%	★★★★★
2012	99.7	1 of 466	99.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	99.9	1 of 318	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	99.9	1 of 316	99.7%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	1 of 299	99.7%	★★★★★
2021	99.9	1 of 277	99.6%	★★★★★
2019	97.9	5 of 293	98.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	99.6	1 of 546	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	99.5	1 of 554	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	99.8	1 of 560	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	99.8	1 of 552	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	99.8	1 of 538	99.8%	★★★★★
2019	99.3	2 of 529	99.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2022	99.8	1 of 540	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	99.8	2 of 529	99.6%	★★★★★
2019	99.5	2 of 523	99.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	99.4	2 of 504	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	99.5	2 of 503	99.6%	★★★★★
2022	99.7	1 of 500	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	99.8	2 of 496	99.6%	★★★★★
2019	99.3	2 of 484	99.6%	★★★★★
2018	97.5	6 of 481	98.8%	★★★★★

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)

Elementary school

Male (2024)100th percentile~ school

Female (2025)100th percentile

African American (2025)100th percentile

White (2024)100th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2019)88th percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2019)81st percentile-15 vs school

Middle school

Female (2025)100th percentile

Male (2022)100th percentile~ school

African American (2024)100th percentile~ school

White (2024)100th percentile~ school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics95%+48 vs state

Social Studies95%+48 vs state

3.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, August 26, 2018

Teachers and staff are amazing. The PTO and parents are very involved in the school and helping out where needed. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, April 12, 2018

Test scores aren’t everything. Unfriendly staff, minimal communication. So much left to be desired. Close Quote

Schools Near Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts

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 All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts	Public, Magnet	K-8	221 Todd LN	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	Yes	No	No	(615) 904-6715	662	43	15.5		450 (68.0%)	103 (15.6%)	42 (6.3%)	30 (4.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.1%)								(n/a)			94.8										94.8	$11,712	$348	$10,763
Springs Public Schools Tennessee Empower Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	198 Culbertson ST	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(615) 237-7170	0																		(n/a)														$12,287	$297	$11,162
Smyrna Primary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Walnut ST	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 459-3161	597	38	15.7		198 (33.2%)	96 (16.1%)	190 (31.8%)	70 (11.7%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.0%)	36 (6.0%)	36.8	653^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	35.3%		37.1	646^th of 1018 public elementary schools	36.5%	7	31.6	36.2	31.3	33.0	27.4	43.6	35.4	35.4	31.6	42.6	47.5	40.6		$14,864	$817	$13,260
David Youree Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	250 Todd LN	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 459-3492	725	50	14.5		183 (25.2%)	209 (28.8%)	245 (33.8%)	31 (4.3%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	50 (6.9%)	18.3	856^th of 1009 public elementary schools	15.2%		20.6	835^th of 1018 public elementary schools	18.0%	21	19.6	24.1	26.0	23.2	20.4	26.8	29.8	25.5	20.4	35.7	28.7	28.3		$13,611	$1,071	$11,704
Rocky Fork Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Thunderstorm LN	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-3790	967	58	16.6		403 (41.7%)	161 (16.6%)	249 (25.7%)	93 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	59 (6.1%)	50.9	476^th of 1009 public elementary schools	52.8%		51	462^nd of 1018 public elementary schools	54.6%	14	33.6	37.4	51.8	41.5	41.3	43.9	42.4	42.5	41.3	43.9	52.9	46.4		$12,421	$385	$11,389
Smyrna Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1001 Sam Davis RD	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-6725	767	57	13.4		179 (23.3%)	74 (9.6%)	453 (59.1%)	31 (4.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	27 (3.5%)	43.4	554^th of 1009 public elementary schools	45.1%		43.9	559^th of 1018 public elementary schools	45.1%	5	29.5	53.0	45.1	42.9	20.8	50.6	39.6	37.5	24.4	48.2	39.6	37.7		$15,585	$1,054	$13,673
Stewartsboro Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10479 Old Nashville HWY	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-6705	800	53	15.2		405 (50.6%)	91 (11.4%)	223 (27.9%)	25 (3.1%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	50 (6.3%)	69.7	240^th of 1009 public elementary schools	76.2%		80.6	148^th of 1018 public elementary schools	85.5%	92	59.2	67.8	68.9	65.2	41.6	45.2	42.6	43.1	50.4	57.4	53.3	53.6		$12,992	$559	$11,705
Cedar Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	354 Chaney RD	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-3777	902	64	14.0		257 (28.5%)	131 (14.5%)	439 (48.7%)	38 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	34 (3.8%)	50.3	482^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	52.2%		53.1	435^th of 1018 public elementary schools	57.3%	47	36.8	49.6	42.9	43.2	37.4	49.6	35.3	40.8	45.2	47.9	43.7	45.6		$14,960	$980	$13,193
John Colemon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1098 Espey DR	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 904-6740	625	46	13.7		197 (31.5%)	119 (19.0%)	247 (39.5%)	23 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	34 (5.4%)	37.2	642^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	36.4%		36.5	655^th of 1018 public elementary schools	35.7%	13	29.5	34.3	39.0	34.3	25.0	36.3	37.8	32.8	31.8	47.5	47.8	42.0		$13,018	$1,012	$11,310
Stewarts Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Red Hawk PKWY	Smyrna	37167	Rutherford County	Rutherford County	No	No	No	No	(615) 904-6750	1,349	80	16.9		881 (65.3%)	136 (10.1%)	174 (12.9%)	88 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.3%)	66 (4.9%)	92.6	66^th of 1009 public elementary schools	93.5%		88.2	100^th of 1018 public elementary schools	90.2%	34	76.8	82.0	84.4	81.3	58.6	71.6	69.3	66.8	59.7	71.6	74.3	69.0		$12,554	$297	$11,668

Frequently Asked Questions about Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts

What is the racial makeup of Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts?

Students at Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts are 64% White, 17% African American, 8% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

How many students attend Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 732 students attended Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts.

What district is Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts in?

Rutherford County

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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.