The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Math. The lowest is 40% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Cascade Elementary
Cascade Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small rural town of Wartrace, Tennessee, as part of the Bedford County school district. The school is located on a campus that sits outside the downtown core, alongside Cascade Middle and High School, a grouping that was established after a fire at the Bell Buckle school displaced students from Wartrace, Bell Buckle, and parts of Shelbyville.
The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population of roughly one in every eleven students, a smaller Black population, and a share of students who identify as two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.
On state assessments administered through Tennessee’s TNReady program, Cascade Elementary posted results that give a mixed picture for a family weighing its academic profile. In math, roughly two out of three students scored at or above the proficient level, a solid outcome. In English language arts, the share of students reaching that same benchmark was closer to one out of every two. Science results sat between those two subjects, with a little more than half of students meeting the proficiency bar. Social studies data from several years ago showed a lower result, though the assessment itself changed in the years since, making direct comparison unreliable. While the school’s proficiency rates in math and science are areas of relative strength, the English language arts figure is softer, and a parent may want to discuss reading and writing support with the school directly to understand how it addresses this area.
The school environment data, including chronic absenteeism rates and discipline statistics, was not reported in the available records. Title I status was also not listed. The school had very high participation in the state tests, with nearly every enrolled student taking the exams.
Wartrace itself is a very small town with a deep connection to the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Its historic downtown, centered on the railroad tracks, contains the Walking Horse Hotel, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Museum, and Memorial Park. The town’s population is limited, and its growth has been slow, with no major new housing developments identified in public sources. The local economy draws on heritage tourism, the horse industry, and proximity to Shelbyville and Arnold Air Force Base in Tullahoma. The schools serve a wider area beyond Wartrace, including children from Bell Buckle and parts of Shelbyville.
Housing in the area reflects a market that is above the national median in value, with typical home prices that are high relative to the town’s small size and rural setting. The mortgage rates prevailing at the time of this analysis put a monthly payment on a median-priced home at a level that is above the national average, and rents are also elevated. These figures suggest that while Wartrace offers a quiet, historically rooted setting, the cost of housing is a factor to weigh, especially for families who may be considering a move into the district.
Because Cascade Elementary serves only through fifth grade, it has no graduation rate to report, and state testing data is confined to the grades it serves. The school’s academic picture is defined by a strong math performance, a more moderate English language arts result, and science proficiency that sits between the two. Families whose priority is a small-town elementary school with a clear math strength and a need for conversation around literacy support will find the most relevant information here.
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