The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Social studies. The lowest is 31% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on South Todd Elementary School
South Todd Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade in Guthrie, a small railroad-founded town on the Kentucky-Tennessee border in Todd County. The school is a regular public elementary school and part of the Todd County district. Guthrie itself has a compact downtown shaped by its railroad heritage, with active freight lines and civic anchors including the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum and the Guthrie Transportation Museum. The town has seen modest population growth in recent years, with a downtown renewal project underway that has drawn state grants and planning support from the University of Kentucky.
The school enrolls students across all elementary grades, with the largest groups in kindergarten and second grade. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and a smaller share of Black students. Just over two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a community with significant economic need. The school operates as a regular public school and is not a charter or magnet school. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the reviewed sources, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support structures in place for those groups.
On state assessments, performance varies by subject and grade level. In reading, about half of third graders and fifth graders met the state’s proficiency standard, while fourth graders showed a slightly lower share. In math, fifth graders performed at about the same level as their peers in reading, third graders were close behind, and fourth graders had the lowest proficiency share among the tested grades. Science results for fourth graders were lower than their reading and math performance in that grade. Fifth graders taking social studies assessments performed similarly to their reading results. Overall, the school shows pockets of stronger performance in upper elementary reading and math, with some softer spots in fourth-grade math and fourth-grade science. A parent may want to look into those grade-level patterns further with the school to understand what supports are in place.
Because South Todd Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or high school program data to review. No chronic absenteeism data was available in the records examined, and civil rights discipline data was absent. The school’s academic performance relative to other elementary schools in Todd County could not be compared, as the county contains only a single district, making the comparison set too small for meaningful placement.
Housing in the Guthrie area is moderately priced relative to national and state medians, with home values lower than the Kentucky average. With mortgage rates near historic norms for early 2026, homeownership remains within reach for many families, though the estimated monthly payment on a median-priced home represents a notable share of area incomes. Renters have seen rising shelter costs consistent with national trends. The town’s downtown renewal effort suggests some local investment, but no major new housing developments were identified in available sources.
South Todd Elementary offers a neighborhood school experience in a small-town setting. The academic results show a mixed picture, with some grade levels performing well and others revealing areas where a parent may want to understand the school’s approach to improving outcomes. The school’s economic context and limited data on student support programs mean families evaluating this school would benefit from a direct conversation with administrators about intervention strategies, enrichment opportunities, and how the school serves students across different achievement levels.
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