Summary:
In ZIP code 38381, which covers the Toone, Tennessee area, there is just one school—Toone Elementary School—serving grades PK through 8 with 217 students. Although the area summary lists it as an elementary school, it functions as a combined elementary and middle school, making it the sole educational option for families in this rural community. The school belongs to Hardeman County Schools, a district ranked near the bottom of Tennessee (9th percentile, 0 stars), but Toone stands out as a clear bright spot within that district.
Toone Elementary outperforms its district in every tested subject by wide margins. In the 2025–2026 school year, all-grade proficiency rates were 33.1% in math, 42.7% in ELA, 46.8% in science, and 44.6% in social studies—beating the district by 8.6 to 15.7 percentage points. Compared to the state, the school is slightly above in ELA, essentially at par in science, but below in math and social studies. Its state ranking has improved from the 36th percentile (2 stars) in 2024–2025 to the 52nd percentile (3 stars) in 2025–2026. Chronic absenteeism is a strong point: at 14.2%, it is well below both the district’s 21.5% and the state’s 18.3%.
The most striking finding involves the 6th-grade cohort, which posts exceptionally high proficiency rates—63.2% in ELA and 68.4% in science, both more than 20 points above state averages. The biggest weakness is 7th-grade math, where only 13.3% of students are proficient, compared to 39.2% statewide. Elementary grades (3–5) generally lag the state in math and science, while 8th graders exceed the state in ELA by 13 points. Per-student spending is a notable $13,218, though no student-teacher ratio data is available. With lower absenteeism, steady academic gains, and a rising state ranking, Toone Elementary School appears to be a positive outlier in a struggling district—still facing challenges in middle-grade math and social studies, but clearly moving in the right direction.
Thank you for your feedback!