Lara Kendall Elementary

Lara Kendall Elementary serves 335 students in grades 3 through 8 in Ridgely, Tennessee, earning recognition as one of the state's top-performing middle schools. With a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranking 133rd out of 1,796 Tennessee schools, the school places in the 93rd percentile statewide—a remarkable achievement for a rural educational institution. The school maintains an impressive student-teacher ratio of 9.9 to 1 with 34 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for more personalized attention and smaller class sizes than many larger districts can offer.

This intimate learning environment appears to contribute significantly to the school's academic success. Located in Lake County's rural landscape, Lara Kendall Elementary serves a community where the median household income is $38,427 and median home values are $90,000. Despite economic challenges in the area, with a 26.2% poverty rate and only 10% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, the school has distinguished itself through strong educational outcomes that exceed expectations for its demographic context.

The school sits at 200 College Street in this remote rural setting, serving families throughout the surrounding Lake County area. This close-knit educational community demonstrates that rural schools can achieve excellence while maintaining the personal connections that make small-town education special.

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.9:1, Lara Kendall Elementary offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Located in a rural area, Lara Kendall 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.