The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Math. The lowest is 74% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Donelson Elementary
Donelson Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Arlington, a fast-growing suburban town in Shelby County about a half-hour northeast of Memphis. The school is part of Arlington Community Schools, a district created in response to the town's rapid population growth. Arlington itself has transformed from a railroad settlement into a residential community with a historic Depot Square core, expanding subdivisions, and a growing commercial strip along the highway. The town has added a freestanding emergency department, a veterans' home, and new retail, and its housing market reflects that demand: home values have risen steadily, and the typical home is priced above the state average. Rents are also above the national norm relative to income, which matters for families weighing the area.
Donelson Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is not a charter or magnet school. The enrollment is large for an elementary school, and the student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of Black and Hispanic students and a smaller share of Asian and multiracial students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor were counts of students with individualized education plans or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the range of student supports and the economic diversity of the student body.
On state assessments, Donelson Elementary posts strong results. In math, English language arts, and science, the share of students scoring proficient or above is well above the midpoint among districts in Shelby County, placing the school in the top quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. The school's proficiency rates in math, ELA, and science are all high, and participation on test day was complete. Social studies data is older and from a different assessment, so it is not directly comparable to current results. Because Donelson serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report.
The school is large for an elementary school, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across kindergarten through fifth grade and a pre-kindergarten program. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Black and Hispanic presence and smaller Asian and multiracial groups. The school is not a Title I school, though the data on economic disadvantage was not available, so a family may want to ask about the range of socioeconomic backgrounds represented.
Arlington itself is a fast-growing town that has seen its population increase sharply over recent decades, driven by the expansion of Highway 70 and new residential subdivisions. The town has added commercial development, a freestanding emergency department, and a veterans' home that will employ a sizable staff. Housing values have risen steadily and are above the state average, and rents are also elevated relative to national norms. The town is car-dependent, with a low-density layout of subdivisions and highway-oriented commercial strips, though a historic Depot Square area hosts community events like concerts, a farmers market, and festivals. The school district was created as an independent system in response to the town's growth, and Donelson Elementary is one of the elementary schools serving the municipality.
For a family considering Arlington, Donelson Elementary offers a strong academic foundation in a large, suburban elementary school. The proficiency results are well above the county median, and the school serves a predominantly white student body with meaningful racial diversity. The town's rapid growth means new commercial and medical infrastructure, but also rising housing costs and a car-dependent layout. A parent looking for a school with solid test scores in a growing suburban community will find Donelson Elementary a strong fit, though families should confirm the specific support services available since some demographic data was not reported.
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