The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Science. The lowest is 32% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Parsons Elementary
Parsons Elementary serves a small rural community in western Tennessee as the primary school for early grades in the town of Parsons and the surrounding area. The school covers pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, meaning it handles the youngest learners in the Decatur County system before they move on to upper elementary or middle school. As a regular public school, it is not a charter or magnet institution. The town of Parsons itself is a small rural place that has seen its population contract over recent decades, a pattern common to many small agricultural towns in the region. Founded as a railroad stop in the late nineteenth century, the town retains a modest downtown along the US highway intersection and a quiet residential character. Home values in the area are well below both state and national averages, which reflects the area's modest economy and limited growth.
On the Tennessee state assessments, Parsons Elementary shows a mixed picture. In math and English language arts, the share of students meeting the state's proficiency standard falls below half of the tested population, with roughly one in three students reaching that level in each subject. Science results are stronger, with a clear majority of students not yet at the proficient level but a notably higher share meeting the standard compared to math and reading. Social studies data is available only from several years ago and from a different testing framework, making it difficult to draw a current comparison. The school's participation rate on the assessments was very high, meaning nearly all enrolled students were tested. Because Parsons Elementary serves only grades PK through four, there is no graduation rate to report, and metrics like chronic absenteeism and course access are not available for this age range in the provided data. No information on specific programs such as gifted services, special education supports, or extracurricular offerings was included in the data, so a parent would need to contact the school directly for details on those offerings.
The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a small Hispanic population and very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The school enrolls a few hundred students across its six grade levels, making it a relatively small elementary school by state standards. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was not reported, and information on students with disabilities or English learners is also missing from the available records. Parents wanting to understand the full support structure for different learners should seek that information from the district.
Parsons sits at the intersection of two US highways, about a short drive south of Interstate 40, and is roughly midway between Memphis and Nashville. The town provides its own municipal utilities and has a small downtown area anchored by city hall. The local economy is supported by small businesses, retail, and service providers, but no major employers were identified in the public record. The population decline suggests limited new housing construction or job growth, so families moving into the area should expect a stable but slow environment.
Because there is only one school district in Decatur County, no comparison to other local districts is possible from the data. That means a parent cannot gauge how Parsons Elementary stacks up against nearby systems using this dataset alone. The school's academic results sit below the state average in some subjects, but without a local comparison it is hard to say how that fits relative to peer schools in similar rural settings. The school's strengths lie in its small size, community focus, and early childhood foundation. Families who value a traditional small-town elementary experience with a close-knit feel and modest housing costs will find the school a natural fit. Those looking for a wide array of specialized programs or robust academic enrichment may want to discuss what is available directly with the school.
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