The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in English language arts. The lowest is 47% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Simpson Elementary School
Simpson Elementary School serves first, second, and third graders in the Simpson County School District in Franklin, Kentucky. Since it covers only the primary grades, the school has no high school graduation rate to report, and no older-grade data like chronic absenteeism figures were available in the records. The state testing results that are on file come from third graders, the one tested grade in the building, and they give a clear picture of where these young students stand.
State assessment data shows that in reading, a majority of third graders met the bar for proficient or above. In math, the share doing so was smaller, landing just below half. These are single-year results from a single grade, so they offer a snapshot rather than a trend. A parent might want to ask the school how these figures compare with earlier years and what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting the proficiency threshold.
The student body is majority white, with Black students, students of two or more races, and Hispanic students each making up a smaller but present share. A substantial portion of the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which is a marker that many families in the community are managing on modest incomes. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and sits within a district that also operates Franklin Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, a middle school, and the high school plus an alternative campus.
Franklin is a small city and the seat of Simpson County, positioned along the I-65 corridor between Nashville and Bowling Green. The town has a historic downtown square anchored by the courthouse, a public library, and a few museums, while much of the commercial activity runs along the highway strip. The local economy includes hospitality tied to Kentucky Downs racetrack, a growing hotel stock, and a recently announced Kroger distribution center that is expected to bring a large number of jobs. Housing values in the area sit near the state average, and rents are modest relative to incomes. The town is car-dependent, with no public transit identified in available sources. The district itself did not have any recent major changes, such as boundary shifts or program overhauls, in the public record.
For a family considering Simpson Elementary, the main considerations are straightforward. This is a school that serves only the early elementary years, so the academic focus is on foundational skills. Reading proficiency is a relative strength in the third-grade data; math is an area where more students may need attention. The school is part of a small, countywide district, and the community around it is a modestly sized town with a stable but not fast-growing population. The housing market is affordable compared to the nation, and the area is adding some industrial employment that could affect the local economy in the coming years. A parent who wants a neighborhood elementary school in a small-town setting, and who is comfortable following up on how the school supports math learning in particular, would find this a reasonable fit.
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