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Spencer Elementary

Q: Is Spencer Elementary a good school?

Spencer Elementary ranks 555 th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

555^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,009 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 45% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Spencer Elementary is a public elementary school in Spencer, Tennessee, serving 368 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Van Buren County School District, which is ranked 68 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Spencer Elementary has seen a steady increase in chronic absenteeism rates, from 10.6% in 2021-2022 to 18.9% in 2023-2024 (significantly higher than the state average of 15.4%), the school's academic performance is a concern. In mathematics, the school's proficiency rates are consistently lower than the state and district averages across all grade levels, with an overall proficiency rate of 36.2% in 2024-2025, compared to 42.2% for the state and 42.1% for the Van Buren County district. The school's English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rates are also generally lower than the state and district, with the exception of 4th grade.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Cassville Elementary and Findlay Elementary in the White County district, Spencer Elementary significantly underperforms in terms of test scores and overall school rankings. The school's increased spending per student, from $13,101 in 2021-2022 to $17,025 in 2023-2024, has not yet translated into improved academic outcomes, suggesting the need for the school and district to review their resource allocation strategies and implement targeted interventions to address the unique needs of their student population.

372

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,023

Per pupil spending ?

86.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

311 Sparta Street
Spencer, TN 38585

(931) 946-2171

District: Van Buren County

Students who attend Spencer Elementary usually attend:

High:

Van Buren County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

98.4%

African American:

0.8%

Hispanic:

0.8%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Spencer Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 16th percentile in 2014 → 45th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 29 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg40%

Tennessee avg42%

555^th of 1,009

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 45%▲ up 27 pts since 2015

From bottom 18% (2015) to bottom 45% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

68^th of 139Van Buren 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	43.4	555 of 1009	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.3	496 of 1018	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.8	613 of 1020	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.1	581 of 1000	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.2	497 of 983	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.4	468 of 985	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.8	524 of 997	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.3	428 of 646	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	29.9	700 of 855	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.4	718 of 853	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	38.6	676 of 846	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	27.8	670 of 820	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	39.7	556 of 818	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	51.7	418 of 809	48.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	48.7	481 of 986	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.1	441 of 990	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	29.9	699 of 989	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.6	584 of 975	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.6	554 of 945	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.1	331 of 926	64.3%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	48.9	8 of 12	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	72.2	5 of 17	70.6%	★★★★☆
2023	58.7	8 of 18	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	51.3	382 of 843	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.2	199 of 853	76.7%	★★★★☆
2023	46.7	438 of 865	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.0	397 of 858	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.4	429 of 823	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.3	184 of 821	77.6%	★★★★☆
2018	48.1	419 of 877	52.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	37.1	634 of 984	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.1	542 of 991	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.1	474 of 987	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.0	577 of 980	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.0	415 of 941	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.0	630 of 916	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	36.6	367 of 618	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.3	357 of 582	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.4	271 of 447	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.0	287 of 395	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	28.8	633 of 840	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.5	568 of 847	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.3	680 of 852	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.5	645 of 844	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.5	565 of 844	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.8	553 of 812	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.6	577 of 841	31.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)55th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)51st percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2025)41st percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)36th percentile-9 vs school

Homeless (2025)33rd percentile-12 vs school

White (2025)25th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts43%+4 vs state

Science40%-6 vs state

Mathematics36%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Spencer 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
Spencer Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	311 Sparta Street	Spencer	38585	Van Buren County	Van Buren County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 946-2171	368	30	12.2		364 (98.9%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43.4	555^th of 1009 public elementary schools	45.0%		48.3	496^th of 1018 public elementary schools	51.3%	59	40.0	33.9	34.9				36.2	32.0	57.6	37.2				43.4	38.0	37.3	46.5				40.1					$16,023	$2,405	$12,411
Doyle Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	174 West Gooseneck RD	Doyle	38559	White County	White County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 657-2287	304	20	15.4		283 (93.1%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	78.2	167^th of 1009 public elementary schools	83.4%		71	229^th of 1018 public elementary schools	77.5%	62	61.8	65.4	63.8				63.9	47.1	55.8	48.9				51.1	64.7	55.8	66.0				61.7					$11,236	$855	$9,310
Woodland Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	88 Panther DR	Sparta	38583	White County	White County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 738-3505	506	34	14.8		456 (90.1%)	17 (3.4%)	6 (1.2%)	7 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.6%)	53.5	443^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	56.1%		59.9	346^th of 1018 public elementary schools	66.0%	97	43.4	54.7	50.8				49.3	36.8	48.4	30.2				38.4	50.0	54.7	34.9				46.8					$13,143	$1,509	$10,500
Eastside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	2121 Old Rock Island RD	Rock Island	38581	Warren County	Warren County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 259-4611	392	30	12.8		309 (78.8%)	5 (1.3%)	60 (15.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.3%)	40.5	604^th of 1009 public elementary schools	40.1%		50.5	467^th of 1018 public elementary schools	54.1%	137	49.0	32.4	48.9	40.4	21.2	20.9	36.8	35.3	52.9	40.0	23.4	36.4	25.6	34.8	29.4	44.1	35.6	27.7	48.5	53.5	38.7	27.7	66.7	30.2	39.0	$12,635	$1,135	$10,538
Findlay Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	560 Hale ST	Sparta	38583	White County	White County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 738-2412	418	29	14.3		378 (90.4%)	11 (2.6%)	12 (2.9%)	3 (0.7%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.9%)	89.3	93^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	90.8%		85.9	118^th of 1018 public elementary schools	88.4%	25	85.7	63.9	81.5				77.0	75.8	54.1	57.4				62.7	84.1	65.6	66.7				72.5					$12,991	$1,029	$10,747
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
Bon De Croft Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8095 Crossville HWY	Sparta	38583	White County	White County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 935-2359	190	17	11.0		178 (93.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.6%)	54.1	432^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	57.2%		50.7	465^th of 1018 public elementary schools	54.3%	33	50.0	53.3	60.0				54.4	58.3	36.7	28.0				40.5	29.2	46.7	48.0				41.8					$14,653	$1,234	$12,194
Cassville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	261 Will Thompson RD	Sparta	38583	White County	White County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 761-2277	231	16	14.2		214 (92.6%)	3 (1.3%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.5%)	72.3	218^th of 1009 public elementary schools	78.4%		66.3	269^th of 1018 public elementary schools	73.6%	51	51.4	68.2	57.9				57.9	48.6	86.4	52.6				58.9	42.9	63.6	47.4				49.5					$13,011	$1,150	$10,721
Bobby Ray Memorial	Public	PK, KG-5	504 North Chancery ST	McMinnville	37110	Warren County	Warren County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 473-9006	548	38	14.5		360 (65.7%)	14 (2.6%)	125 (22.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	41 (7.5%)	29.9	738^th of 1009 public elementary schools	26.9%		22.7	815^th of 1018 public elementary schools	19.9%	77	33.3	55.2	20.6				36.1	28.4	46.3	19.1				31.0	22.2	41.8	22.1				28.2					$13,809	$1,587	$11,047
Irving College Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	115 Dry Creek RD	McMinnville	37110	Warren County	Warren County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 668-8693	288	22	13.0		239 (83.0%)	6 (2.1%)	32 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.8%)	54.4	425^th of 1009 public elementary schools	57.9%		41.9	593^rd of 1018 public elementary schools	41.7%	168	57.9	26.1	44.1	46.7	43.8	40.0	44.5	60.5	43.5	32.4	36.7	34.4	44.0	42.3	52.6	39.1	38.2	40.0	43.8	52.0	44.5	43.3	46.9	68.0	51.7	$13,533	$1,096	$11,261

Frequently Asked Questions about Spencer Elementary

What district is Spencer Elementary in?

Van Buren County

Is Spencer Elementary a good school?

Spencer Elementary ranks 555^th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Spencer Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 372 students attended Spencer Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Spencer Elementary?

Students at Spencer Elementary are 98% White.

What schools do graduates of Spencer Elementary attend?

Students who attend Spencer Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Van Buren County High School

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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.