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Watt Hardison Elementary School

Q: Is Watt Hardison Elementary School a good school?

Watt Hardison Elementary School ranks 482 nd of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

482^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 53% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Watt Hardison Elementary School is a K–5 school in Portland, TN, serving 429 students as part of Sumner County Schools, a highly rated district. The school holds a 3-star rating and ranks 482nd out of 1,019 Tennessee elementary schools (53rd percentile), making it the highest-ranked K–5 school in the immediate Portland area.

Academically, Watt Hardison beats state averages in math (45.4% proficient vs. 43.0%) and ELA (45.8% vs. 40.6%), though it trails its district in both subjects plus science. It clearly outperforms nearby Portland-area schools: math proficiency is 18 points higher than at Benny C. Bills Elementary School and J W Wiseman Elementary School, and ELA scores top those at Portland Gateview Elementary School and Clyde Riggs Elementary School by wide margins. Science is the school's weakest subject, consistently below both state and district averages. A notable dip appears in 5th grade, where ELA proficiency falls to 38.5% versus 50% in 3rd and 4th grades. Attendance, however, is a real strength: the chronic absenteeism rate of 10.9% in 2024–25 is roughly half the state rate and better than nearby schools like J W Wiseman (19.4%) and Clyde Riggs (15.6%).

Spending is efficient: at $12,837 per student (2024–25), Watt Hardison spends less than most area elementary schools yet achieves stronger results than several higher-spending peers, including Harold B. Williams Elementary School and Portland Gateview Elementary School. The most concerning trend is special education: rankings there have dropped from the 61st percentile in 2023–24 to the 17th percentile in 2025–26, a red flag worth monitoring. Low-income students, by contrast, jumped from the 25th to the 79th percentile over the same period. Overall, Watt Hardison is a solid, mid-tier school with strong local performance, but it has clear opportunities to improve in science, 5th-grade instruction, and support for special education students.

429

Students ?

15.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,837

Per pupil spending ?

54.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

300 Gibson Street
Portland, TN 37148

(615) 325-3233

District: Sumner County Schools

Students who attend Watt Hardison Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Portland West Middle School
High:	Portland High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.5%

Hispanic:

14.2%

Two or more races:

5.8%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Watt Hardison Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 30th percentile in 2015 → 53rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 23 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Tennessee median (53rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg56%

Tennessee avg43%

482^nd of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 47%▲ up 4 pts since 2017

From bottom 49% (2017) to top 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^th of 27Elementary Schools in the Sumner County Schools

33^rd of 141Sumner 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	50.9	482 of 1019	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.6	442 of 1009	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.9	347 of 1018	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.2	544 of 1020	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.3	542 of 1000	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	57.7	335 of 983	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.7	283 of 985	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	50.7	443 of 997	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	47.0	329 of 646	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.6	598 of 855	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	41.0	559 of 853	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.7	665 of 846	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.3	621 of 820	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	55.6	384 of 818	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	23.6	673 of 809	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	95.9	20 of 498	96.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	51.4	440 of 986	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.0	299 of 990	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.3	554 of 989	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.0	530 of 975	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.7	356 of 945	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.7	243 of 926	73.8%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	43.7	251 of 458	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.5	152 of 424	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.2	171 of 415	58.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	68.6	175 of 823	78.7%	★★★★☆
2025	32.6	636 of 843	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	49.0	402 of 853	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.2	371 of 865	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.3	361 of 858	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	81.0	62 of 823	92.5%	★★★★★
2019	64.2	185 of 821	77.5%	★★★★☆
2018	45.2	468 of 877	46.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	53.8	413 of 984	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.7	430 of 991	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.9	503 of 987	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.9	554 of 980	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.8	330 of 941	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.9	303 of 916	66.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	24.4	529 of 641	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.5	434 of 618	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.0	225 of 582	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	21.8	466 of 528	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.9	252 of 447	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.3	184 of 255	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.7	177 of 395	55.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	39.6	510 of 849	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.7	487 of 840	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.0	414 of 847	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.7	602 of 852	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.2	587 of 844	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.2	423 of 844	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.1	363 of 812	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.0	538 of 841	36.0%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2024)96th percentile+30 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)79th percentile+26 vs school

Male (2025)58th percentile~ school

Female (2025)55th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)45th percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)40th percentile-13 vs school

Special Education (2026)17th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts46%+5 vs state

Mathematics45%~ state avg

Science42%-5 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, January 26, 2019

Great School nice staff newly renovated my kids love it there. Close Quote

Schools Near Watt Hardison 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 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 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 All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Watt Hardison Elementary School	Public	K-5	300 Gibson Street	Portland	37148	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 325-3233	425	27	15.7	54.4%	316 (74.4%)	23 (5.4%)	60 (14.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.1%)	50.9	482^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	52.7%		53.6	442^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	56.2%	40	38.9	50.0	47.4		45.4	50.0	50.0	38.5		45.8	43.1	40.9	41.0		41.7			$12,837	$1,161	$10,992
J W Wiseman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	922 South Broadway	Portland	37148	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 325-8580	386	30	13.0	60.5%	257 (66.6%)	14 (3.6%)	94 (24.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.4%)	25.3	801^st of 1019 public elementary schools	21.4%		37.4	637^th of 1009 public elementary schools	36.9%	164	20.0	34.1	28.0		27.1	24.0	46.7	32.0		33.8	20.0	38.6	34.0		30.6			$18,138	$1,275	$14,903
Clyde Riggs Elementary School	Public	K-5	211 Fountain Head Road	Portland	37148	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 325-2391	319	21	14.9	51.3%	241 (75.5%)	11 (3.4%)	45 (14.1%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.0%)	35	693^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	32.0%		58.9	364^th of 1009 public elementary schools	63.9%	329	18.2	56.3	37.0		37.7	29.5	41.7	39.1		37.0	20.5	37.5	41.3		33.3			$15,383	$953	$13,298
Portland Gateview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1098 Gateview Drive	Portland	37148	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 323-7638	570	41	14.0	53.7%	430 (75.4%)	33 (5.8%)	66 (11.6%)	7 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.8%)	34.3	705^th of 1019 public elementary schools	30.8%		31.3	719^th of 1009 public elementary schools	28.7%	14	19.0	34.0	42.7		31.6	32.1	37.5	38.7		36.1	32.1	42.7	46.7		40.4			$14,171	$882	$12,741
Oakmont Elementary School	Public	K-5	3323 Highway 76	Cottontown	37048	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 325-5313	136	11	12.2	44.3%	122 (89.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.1%)	88.6	101^st of 1019 public elementary schools	90.1%		96.3	38^th of 1009 public elementary schools	96.2%	63	75.0	77.8	77.3		76.9	85.0	72.2	72.7		75.6	50.0	66.7	54.5		59.0			$18,047	$241	$15,708
North Sumner Elementary School	Public	K-5	1485 North Sumner Road	Bethpage	37022	Sumner County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 888-2281	225	17	13.6	53.5%	200 (88.9%)	3 (1.3%)	16 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.2%)	57.4	406^th of 1019 public elementary schools	60.2%		68.7	252^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	75.0%	154	34.3	64.3	65.8		55.7	51.4	42.9	42.1		45.2	37.1	41.5	55.3		44.7			$15,022	$1,053	$12,406
East Robertson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5177 E Robertson Road	Cross Plains	37049	Robertson County	Robertson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 654-3874	563	36	15.8	44.8%	477 (84.7%)	15 (2.7%)	43 (7.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.8%)	47.6	522^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	48.8%		48.9	501^st of 1009 public elementary schools	50.3%	21	39.1	46.2	44.1		43.4	40.2	42.7	36.3		39.9	33.7	56.4	45.5		46.1			$14,001	$713	$12,653
White House Heritage Elementary School	Public	3-6	220 West Drive	White House	37188	Robertson County	Robertson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 672-4595	611	39	15.4	33.5%	495 (81.0%)	10 (1.6%)	58 (9.5%)	9 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (6.1%)	59.4	372^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	63.5%		58.5	371^st of 1009 public elementary schools	63.2%	1	39.8	51.7	49.0	45.9	46.7	49.4	51.2	47.7	52.8	50.3	41.7	48.8	41.9	47.8	45.1	50.9	50.9	$11,823	$496	$10,753
Robert F. Woodall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	300 Eden Way	White House	37188	Robertson County	Robertson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 672-7772	506	36	14.1	28.6%	383 (75.7%)	20 (4.0%)	52 (10.3%)	8 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (8.5%)								(n/a)																		$13,789	$611	$12,460
Harold B. Williams Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	115 South Palmer Chapel Road	White House	37188	Robertson County	Sumner County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 672-6432	706	44	16.0	25.4%	576 (81.6%)	29 (4.1%)	58 (8.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	36 (5.1%)								(n/a)																		$14,273	$541	$13,094

Frequently Asked Questions about Watt Hardison Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Watt Hardison Elementary School?

Students at Watt Hardison Elementary School are 76% White, 14% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American.

What district is Watt Hardison Elementary School in?

Sumner County Schools

What schools do graduates of Watt Hardison Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Watt Hardison Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Portland West Middle School
High : Portland High School

Is Watt Hardison Elementary School a good school?

Watt Hardison Elementary School ranks 482^nd of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Watt Hardison Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 429 students attended Watt Hardison Elementary School.

Rate Watt Hardison Elementary School!

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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.