The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in Social studies. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hickerson Elementary
Hickerson Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in rural Coffee County, just outside Tullahoma. The school is part of the Coffee County district, which covers a broad area that includes communities outside the city limits of Tullahoma proper. For a family considering this school, the setting is distinctly rural, and the student body draws from the surrounding county rather than the town itself.
The student population is small and predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic share as the largest minority group. Asian, Black, and multiracial students each make up a very small share of enrollment. Information on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status was not available in the data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about these supports and services.
On state assessments, Hickerson Elementary's proficiency rates place it above the midpoint among its county peers. In math, roughly two out of every five students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, the share was similar. Science proficiency was higher, with approaching half of students meeting the benchmark. Social studies data came from a much earlier year and with a change in testing, so it is not comparable to current results. Participation rates on the tests were very high, indicating that nearly all enrolled students took part. These results suggest a school performing slightly better than many of its nearby counterparts in the county, though a significant share of students are still not reaching proficiency, which is a pattern families may want to explore further in conversation with the school.
The building serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate to report and no secondary pathways such as Advanced Placement, dual credit, or career and technical programs. The academic focus is on the foundational early years.
Housing in the area served by the school is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks. Home values sit somewhat below the national median, and rents are below typical levels as well. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is comparable to a moderately sized rent payment, suggesting that buying and renting are both options for local families. The broader Tullahoma micropolitan area has a mixed economy anchored by the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, the University of Tennessee Space Institute, and related aerospace and defense employers. Growth has been steady but slow, driven by education, services, and tourism rather than manufacturing. The area is car-dependent, with a traditional downtown square and a growing dining scene.
The Coffee County district did not have any recent major changes reported in public sources that would shift a family's decision, so the school's character is likely stable from year to year.
Overall, Hickerson Elementary offers a small, rural elementary setting with solid but not exceptional test results relative to its county. It fits a family looking for a county school outside the city limits of Tullahoma, in a community shaped by aerospace and steady, modest growth. The data does not speak to class size, teacher experience, or enrichment offerings, so those are natural follow-up questions for a visit.
See more original research from School Decision →