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Very Good

#357 of 1,785 schools in TN

Top 20% in state

Bells Elementary

Elementary School · Bells

4547 Highway 88 South, Bells, TN 38006

Enrollment

411

Student-Teacher

13.7:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Tennessee elementary schools

#264 of 1,002

Academic performance

8.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Bells Elementary

Bells Elementary serves 411 students in grades pre-K through fifth in the rural community of Bells, Tennessee. With 30 full-time teachers, the school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.7 to 1, allowing for more personalized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide at #305 out of 1,796 Tennessee elementary schools.

Students show particular strength in mathematics, with 54% scoring proficient or above, while science performance reaches 48% proficiency. Reading and language arts present an area for continued growth, with 36% of students meeting proficiency standards. Bells Elementary sits at 4547 Highway 88 South in Crockett County, where the median household income is $62,823 and median home values average $155,900.

The surrounding zip code of 38006 has a population of 5,589, with 17% of families facing economic challenges and 15% of adults holding bachelor's degrees or higher. As a regular public school in rural Tennessee, Bells Elementary provides educational services to families in a close-knit agricultural community where traditional values and strong community connections help shape the learning environment.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Bells Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.2Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+1.01 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency57.6%
Reading/ELA Proficiency45.5%
Math vs. State Avg+18.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+4.7 pts
Overall Proficiency52%
Expected (poverty-adj.)34%
vs. Expected+18.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.1Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,324

Bells Elementary — Students at Bells Elementary score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TN TCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 53.9%
School
State
39.2%
ELA Proficiency 36.5%
School
State
40.8%

Based on 7 test records from TN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
62%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2025
Math
57.6%
ELA
45.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.2/10.

How Bells Elementary Compares

See how Bells Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
80th percentile in TN
Academic
8.9/10
8.9/10
Growth
7.2/10
Above average
Environment
7.1/10
Above average

Location

4547 Highway 88 South, Bells, TN 38006

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bells Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Gadsden Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 5.6 miles away, in nearby Gadsden), which scores notably higher. Another option is Maury City Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 9.0 miles away, in nearby Maury City), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Alamo Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 4.3 miles away, in nearby Alamo), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Bells, see our Bells schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 12.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Alamo Elementary Alamo 4.3 mi 8.4
Crockett County High School Alamo 5.9 mi 5.3
Crockett County Middle School Alamo 6.1 mi 5.1
Gadsden Elementary Gadsden 5.6 mi 9.4
Maury City Elementary Maury City 9.0 mi 9.2
CROCKETT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Maury City 9.9 mi
Stigall Primary School Humboldt 11.2 mi 7.4
TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Jackson 10.7 mi 6.0
Haywood High School Brownsville 12.2 mi 5.3
East Side Elementary Brownsville 12.7 mi 5.5
Haywood County Virtual Academy Brownsville 12.9 mi
Denmark Elementary Denmark 13.7 mi 7.5
Humboldt Junior/Senior High School Humboldt 13.1 mi 6.1
Haywood Elementary Brownsville 13.3 mi 7.5
Anderson Early Childhood Brownsville 13.5 mi 8.0
Friendship Elementary Friendship 14.2 mi 7.3
FAMILY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Denmark 13.8 mi 7.5
East Elementary School Humboldt 13.2 mi 3.6
Haywood Middle School Brownsville 13.7 mi 4.6
AUGUSTINE SCHOOL Jackson 12.9 mi 6.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 38006 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,250

Median Home Value

$161,300

Median Rent

$893/mo

Population

5,375

College Educated

16.8%

Homeownership

67.6%

Avg Commute

19.6 min

Poverty Rate

14%

Median Age

36.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Bells Elementary has a median household income of $61,250. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $161,300, with a median rent of $893/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.0%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Barger Academy of Fine Arts Chattanooga, TN 7.7
Central Elementary Johnson City, TN 7.7
Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Lower Chattanooga, TN 7.7
Ethridge Elementary Ethridge, TN 7.7
Harold McCormick Elementary Elizabethton, TN 7.7
Huntsville Elementary Huntsville, TN 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bells Elementary

What grades does Bells Elementary serve?

Bells Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Bells Elementary?

Bells Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 411 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bells Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Bells Elementary is 13.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bells Elementary rank in TN?

Bells Elementary is ranked #357 out of 1,785 schools in TN.

What is Bells Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Bells Elementary has a composite rating of 7.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Bells Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Bells Elementary has 53.9% math proficiency and 36.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Bells Elementary a charter school?

No, Bells Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Bells Elementary a Title I school?

No, Bells Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
25 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Average (524/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Bells). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
411
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Crockett County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Bells
District Enrollment
411
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,652
District Rank
#1 of 1

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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