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Spencer Elementary School

Q: Is Spencer Elementary School a good school?

Spencer Elementary School ranks 584 th of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

584^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 43% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Spencer Elementary School is a PK–5 school in rural Spencer, Tennessee, serving 372 students in the Van Buren County Schools district. The school has generally performed near the state average over the past decade, steadily climbing from a 1-star rating in 2014–15 to a 43rd-percentile ranking statewide for 2025–26. It sits between two very different clusters of nearby schools: the lower-performing Warren County Schools to the north and the high-achieving White County Schools to the south.

Attendance is a clear bright spot. Spencer's chronic absenteeism rate fell to just 9.9% in 2024–25, roughly half the state average of 18.3% and well below nearby West Elementary (15.9%) and Bobby Ray Memorial School (14.5%). The school also shows a particular strength with economically disadvantaged students, whose statewide ranking (72nd percentile in 2025–26) far exceeds the school's overall 43rd-percentile position. English Language Arts has been a relative academic strength, with a 43.4% proficiency rate in 2024–25 that topped both the district (36.5%) and state (38.9%). Math has been more challenging, with recent scores lagging district and state averages.

Compared with nearby schools, Spencer outperforms its Warren County neighbors in math, ELA, and science, but trails White County schools considerably — Findlay Elementary, for example, posted 77.9% math proficiency and ranks in the 91st percentile. Notably, Spencer spends more per student ($16,023) than any nearby school, likely reflecting the higher fixed costs of a small rural district. Grade-level results show pockets of strength and weakness: third-grade science proficiency was 57.1%, well above the state's 44.3%, while fifth-grade ELA (30.8%) lagged the state average (42.7%) and may be worth watching.

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 Schools

Students who attend Spencer Elementary School 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 School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 18th percentile in 2015 → 43rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 25 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg39%

Tennessee avg43%

584^th of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 43%▲ up 9 pts since 2017

From bottom 34% (2017) to bottom 43% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

70^th of 141Van Buren 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	43.9	584 of 1019	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	63.0	231 of 823	71.9%	★★★★☆
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
2026	40.4	329 of 641	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	28.6	646 of 849	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
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 (2026)72nd percentile+29 vs school

Female (2025)51st percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2026)49th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)36th percentile-9 vs school

Homeless (2025)33rd percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)24th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Science43%-4 vs state

Mathematics40%-3 vs state

English Language Arts39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Spencer 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 (2016)	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 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 School	Public	PK, KG-5	311 Sparta Street	Spencer	38585	Van Buren County	Van Buren County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 946-2171	368	30	12.2	86.9%	364 (98.9%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43.9	584^th of 1019 public elementary schools	42.7%		43.4	555^th of 1009 public elementary schools	45.0%	29	32.1	50.0	40.4				40.4	42.9	42.9	30.8				38.9	57.1	34.0	37.3				43.3					$16,023	$2,405	$12,411
Doyle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	174 West Gooseneck Road	Doyle	38559	White County	White County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 657-2287	304	20	15.4	82.6%	283 (93.1%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	68	277^th of 1019 public elementary schools	72.8%		78.2	167^th of 1009 public elementary schools	83.4%	110	39.1	86.1	55.6				58.1	39.1	69.4	38.9				47.1	54.3	69.4	55.6				58.8					$11,236	$855	$9,310
Woodland Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	88 Panther Drive	Sparta	38583	White County	White County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 738-3505	506	34	14.8	76.2%	456 (90.1%)	17 (3.4%)	6 (1.2%)	7 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.6%)	59.6	368^th of 1019 public elementary schools	63.9%		53.5	443^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	56.1%	75	56.9	54.1	44.8				52.1	44.8	40.5	56.9				46.8	43.1	50.0	53.4				48.9					$13,143	$1,509	$10,500
Eastside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2121 Old Rock Island Road	Rock Island	38581	Warren County	Warren County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 259-4611	392	30	12.8	74.6%	309 (78.8%)	5 (1.3%)	60 (15.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.3%)	52.1	475^th of 1019 public elementary schools	53.4%		40.5	604^th of 1009 public elementary schools	40.1%	129	38.6	54.3	42.9	37.2	27.7	27.8	38.2	36.4	63.0	42.9	39.5	36.2	25.0	41.0	34.1	65.2	40.0	34.9	57.4	44.4	46.6	44.2	55.3	25.0	42.9	$12,635	$1,135	$10,538
Findlay Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	560 Hale Street	Sparta	38583	White County	White County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 738-2412	418	29	14.3	73.5%	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 1019 public elementary schools	90.9%		89.3	93^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	90.8%		77.0	75.0	82.0				77.9	68.9	61.8	52.5				61.1	70.5	76.5	60.7				69.5					$12,991	$1,029	$10,747
Mary V Wheeler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	33073 Sr 30	Pikeville	37367	Bledsoe County	Bledsoe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 881-3394	214	16	13.3	91.8%	204 (95.3%)	3 (1.4%)	7 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54.6	442^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	56.6%		50.2	484^th of 1009 public elementary schools	52.0%	42	34.5	69.2	50.0				50.5	37.9	69.2	44.4				49.5	24.1	65.4	36.1				40.7					$15,664	$1,855	$12,269
Bon De Croft Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8095 Crossville Highway	Sparta	38583	White County	White County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 935-2359	190	17	11.0	85.5%	178 (93.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.6%)	60.4	363^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	64.4%		54.1	432^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	57.2%	69	26.9	56.5	81.3				56.8	26.9	56.5	50.0				44.4	34.6	52.2	65.6				51.9					$14,653	$1,234	$12,194
Cassville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	261 Will Thompson Road	Sparta	38583	White County	White County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 761-2277	231	16	14.2	81.7%	214 (92.6%)	3 (1.3%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.5%)	72.9	217^th of 1019 public elementary schools	78.7%		72.3	218^th of 1009 public elementary schools	78.4%	1	69.4	75.7	82.6				75.0	58.3	51.4	78.3				60.4	38.9	37.8	65.2				44.8					$13,011	$1,150	$10,721
Bobby Ray Memorial School	Public	PK, KG-5	504 North Chancery Street	McMinnville	37110	Warren County	Warren County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 473-9006	548	38	14.5	85.7%	360 (65.7%)	14 (2.6%)	125 (22.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	41 (7.5%)	38	657^th of 1019 public elementary schools	35.5%		29.9	738^th of 1009 public elementary schools	26.9%	81	32.0	57.3	38.9				43.2	24.0	49.4	37.5				37.4	22.7	44.6	30.6				33.0					$13,809	$1,587	$11,047
Irving College Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	115 Dry Creek Road	McMinnville	37110	Warren County	Warren County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 668-8693	288	22	13.0	68.8%	239 (83.0%)	6 (2.1%)	32 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.8%)	43.7	586^th of 1019 public elementary schools	42.5%		54.4	425^th of 1009 public elementary schools	57.9%	161	40.0	50.0	27.6	11.1	30.0	23.5	31.1	48.6	61.9	34.5	13.9	36.7	26.5	37.9	51.4	61.9	32.1	27.8	53.3	41.2	45.4	36.1	56.7	44.1	45.0	$13,533	$1,096	$11,261

Frequently Asked Questions about Spencer Elementary School

What district is Spencer Elementary School in?

Van Buren County Schools

Is Spencer Elementary School a good school?

Spencer Elementary School ranks 584^th of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Spencer Elementary School?

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

What is the racial makeup of Spencer Elementary School?

Students at Spencer Elementary School are 98% White.

What schools do graduates of Spencer Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Spencer Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Van Buren County High 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.