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Very Good

#355 of 1,785 schools in TN

Top 20% in state

Donelson Elementary

Elementary School · Arlington

12140 Donelson Farms PKWY, Arlington, TN 38002

Enrollment

852

Student-Teacher

15.2:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Arlington

#3 of 6

public schools

Tennessee elementary schools

#262 of 1,002

In district

#2 of 4

Arlington

Equity

9.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Donelson Elementary

Donelson Elementary serves 852 students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Arlington, Tennessee, within the Shelby County school system. With 56 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a comfortable student-teacher ratio of 15.2:1, allowing for more personalized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates exceptional academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranking as the #104 elementary school out of 1,796 schools statewide, placing it in the 94th percentile.

Students consistently excel across core subjects, with 81% achieving proficiency or above in both math and science, while 69% reach proficiency in English Language Arts and reading. Donelson Elementary draws from a well-educated and affluent community in the 38002 ZIP code area, where the median household income reaches $109,364 and home values average $333,300. Nearly half of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate remains low at just 5.6%.

This supportive community environment, combined with strong academic programs, creates an atmosphere where students can thrive. The school is situated in a rural setting near the town of Arlington, offering students a peaceful learning environment while maintaining access to suburban amenities and resources.

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

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Donelson 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 Progress7.4Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+1.21 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.8Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81.2%
Reading/ELA Proficiency79.8%
Math vs. State Avg+42 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+39 pts
Overall Proficiency81%
Expected (poverty-adj.)56%
vs. Expected+24.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile96th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment5.1Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,029

Donelson Elementary — Students at Donelson Elementary score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TN TCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 81.1%
School
State
39.2%
ELA Proficiency 68.9%
School
State
40.8%

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

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
83%
ELA
65%
2021*
Math
79%
ELA
62%
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: 7.4/10.

How Donelson Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.7/10
80th percentile in TN
Academic
9.8/10
9.8/10
Growth
7.4/10
Above average
Environment
5.1/10
Above average

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. Barret's Chapel Elementary/Middle (rated 9.1/10, 7.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Lakeland Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 3.9 miles away, in nearby Lakeland), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Arlington Elementary (rated 7.4/10, 2.3 miles away), with a very similar 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 7.9
Arlington Elementary Arlington 2.3 mi 7.4
Arlington Middle Arlington 2.4 mi 7.1
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 7.6
GALLAWAY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Gallaway 5.5 mi
Lakeland Preparatory School Lakeland 5.1 mi 5.1
Mt. Pisgah Middle/High Cordova 6.7 mi 2.7
FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Bartlett 6.1 mi
Barret's Chapel Elementary/Middle Arlington 7.4 mi 9.1
ARCHON ACADEMY Bartlett 6.8 mi 5.7
Macon-Hall Elementary Cordova 7.6 mi 4.0
Cordova High School Cordova 7.7 mi 5.3
Bolton High Arlington 7.7 mi 6.5
HERITAGE BAPTIST ACADEMY Cordova 8.5 mi 7.4
Bon Lin Elementary School Bartlett 7.6 mi 7.4
Bon Lin Middle School Bartlett 7.6 mi 6.3
HIGHLAND DAY SCHOOL Cordova 9.1 mi
Chimneyrock Elementary School Cordova 8.5 mi 6.9

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Donelson Elementary has a median household income of $115,478. It is a well-educated community where 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $363,000, with a median rent of $1,695/month. The local poverty rate of 4.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 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
Liberty Elementary Shelbyville, TN 7.7
Madison Creek Elementary Goodlettsville, TN 7.7
Mosheim Elementary Mosheim, TN 7.7
Ridge View Elementary Rockwood, TN 7.7
Ross Elementary Memphis, TN 7.7
Shelby Oaks Elementary Memphis, TN 7.7

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 is ranked #355 out of 1,785 schools in TN.

What is Donelson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Donelson 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 Donelson Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Donelson Elementary has 81.1% math proficiency and 68.9% reading/ELA proficiency.

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
County Safety
Average (358/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

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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