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Excellent

#69 of 1,786 schools in TN

Top 4% in state

Donelson Elementary

Elementary School · Arlington

12140 Donelson Farms PKWY, Arlington, TN 38002

Enrollment

852

Student-Teacher

15.2:1

Score

9.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Tennessee schools

#69 of 1,786

In Arlington

#2 of 6

public schools

In district

#2 of 4

Arlington

Equity

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Donelson Elementary

9.0/10

Elementary School in Arlington · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Arlington High

7.8/10

1.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Arlington Elementary

9.3/10

2.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Donelson Elementary

Donelson Elementary is a public elementary school in Arlington, TN, part of Arlington. Donelson Elementary serves approximately 852 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Donelson Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10 and ranks #69 of 1,786 schools in TN.

Structured state assessment records for Donelson Elementary show 80% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).

What's said publicly about Donelson Elementary

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

Donelson Elementary is a public school within the Arlington Community Schools (ACS) district in Tennessee 1 . The district has received the Exemplary School District designation, a status shared by only 14 districts in the state, and has been recognized as a two-time Exemplary School District for student growth and achievement 1 . Donelson Elementary, along with Arlington Elementary and Arlington High, was named a Reward School 1 . ACS students ranked in the top 10 in 24 of 28 tested subjects, contributing to the district's Level 5 distinction, which is the highest possible rating for student growth 1 . The district was also named the #2 Top Workplace and top school district 1 . In 2025, ACS appointed Abigail Cronau as its first-ever student school board representative for the 2025-2026 school year 1 . Scott Benjamin was honored as the Tennessee School Board Member of the Year by the TN Schools Boards Association 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. www.acsk-12.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 9.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 9.2
  • TN avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

Donelson Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.0Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data9
Annual Change-0.08 pts/yr
Data Period2014–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81.2% (2025 TCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency79.8% (2025 TCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+42 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+39 pts
Overall Proficiency81% (2025 TCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)57% (model expectation from 2025 TCAP)
vs. Expected+23.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile96th
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,924
Chronic Absenteeism8.8%

Donelson Elementary — Students at Donelson Elementary score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores TN TCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 80.1% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
School
State
39.2% (2025 TCAP)
ELA Proficiency 67.6% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
School
State
40.8% (2025 TCAP)

Based on 19 test records from TN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2014
Math
88%
ELA
74%
2016
Math
77%
ELA
70%
2017
Math
77%
ELA
65%
2018
Math
83%
ELA
65%
2019
Math
83%
ELA
65%
2020*
Math
79%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
79%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
73.7%
ELA
65.3%
2025
Math
81.2%
ELA
79.8%

* 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: 9.0/10.

How Donelson Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
9.0/10
96th percentile in TN
Academic
9.8/10
Excellent
Growth
9.0/10
Excellent
Environment
7.6/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
56 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
8.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

12140 Donelson Farms PKWY, Arlington, TN 38002

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Donelson Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Arlington Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Lakeland Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 3.9 miles away, in nearby Lakeland), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Bon Lin Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 7.6 miles away, in nearby Bartlett), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Arlington, see our Arlington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 8.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Arlington High Arlington 1.7 mi 7.8
Arlington Elementary Arlington 2.3 mi 9.3
Arlington Middle Arlington 2.4 mi 8.1
MORRIS WILSON CAMPUS SCHOOL Arlington 3.8 mi 7.2
MACON ROAD BAPTIST SCHOOL Arlington 3.8 mi 8.2
Lakeland Elementary School Lakeland 3.9 mi 8.3
GALLAWAY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Gallaway 5.5 mi
Lakeland Preparatory School Lakeland 5.1 mi 7.8
Mt. Pisgah Middle/High Cordova 6.7 mi 2.4
FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Bartlett 6.1 mi
Barret's Chapel Elementary/Middle Arlington 7.4 mi 5.8
ARCHON ACADEMY Bartlett 6.8 mi 5.7
Macon-Hall Elementary Cordova 7.6 mi 4.0
Cordova High School Cordova 7.7 mi 4.0
Bolton High Arlington 7.7 mi 4.1
HERITAGE BAPTIST ACADEMY Cordova 8.5 mi 7.4
Bon Lin Elementary School Bartlett 7.6 mi 8.2
Bon Lin Middle School Bartlett 7.6 mi 6.8
HIGHLAND DAY SCHOOL Cordova 9.1 mi
Chimneyrock Elementary School Cordova 8.5 mi 4.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 38002 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$115,478

Median Home Value

$363,000

Median Rent

$1,695/mo

Population

43,868

College Educated

47%

Homeownership

83%

Avg Commute

28.2 min

Poverty Rate

4.3%

Median Age

39.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bailey Station Elementary School Collierville, TN 9.0
Burks Elementary Monterey, TN 9.0
Clovercroft Elementary School Franklin, TN 9.0
Idlewild Elementary Memphis, TN 9.0
Percy Priest Elementary Nashville, TN 9.0
Prescott South Elementary Cookeville, TN 9.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Donelson Elementary

What grades does Donelson Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Donelson Elementary?

Donelson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 852 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Donelson Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Donelson Elementary is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Donelson Elementary rank in TN?

Donelson Elementary ranks #69 of 1,786 schools in TN.

What is Donelson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Donelson Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Donelson Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Donelson Elementary has 80% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).

Is Donelson Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Donelson Elementary a Title I school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
16 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
852
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
56
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Shelby County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
8.8%

District

Arlington
District Enrollment
4,592
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,924
District Rank
#2 of 4

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