The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Social studies. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Vanleer Elementary
Vanleer Elementary serves prekindergarten through fifth grade in the town of Vanleer, a very small, predominantly residential rural community in Dickson County, about 49 miles west of Nashville. The town is named for a historical iron works operator, reflecting the area's roots in the Cumberland Furnace industry, and today the municipal government employs only a handful of people and provides water service. With a modest commercial footprint and a population density that points to a thoroughly rural setting, Vanleer offers a quiet, small-town context for a family considering this school. Residents likely commute to nearby Dickson or to Nashville for employment, as no major employers were identified within the town itself. Town Hall serves as the civic center, and the school and municipal building are likely near the town's small center rather than on separated campuses.
Vanleer Elementary is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school, and it is part of the Dickson County school district. The data provided for state testing in math, English language arts, and science are from the most recent year available. Participation rates were near complete, as one would expect in a setting of this kind.
In math, the share of students scoring at proficient or above was below the midpoint of the state's broader patterns. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was higher than in math but still fell well short of what is typical in higher-performing schools across Tennessee. In science, the rate of proficiency was similarly modest. The social studies assessment data is older and comes from a period before the state made changes to the assessment and its cut scores, so it is not comparable to current results and should not be used to draw conclusions about current performance. A parent looking at these numbers will want to discuss with the school how the curriculum is structured and what supports exist for students who are not yet meeting the state's proficiency benchmarks.
The student body is predominantly white, with a small share identifying as two or more races and a very small Hispanic and Black enrollment. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, on students receiving special education services, and on English learners were not available. A parent may wish to ask the school directly about these figures. The school serves grades PK through 5, so there is no graduation rate to report.
A comparison against other districts in Dickson County was not possible because Vanleer Elementary is the only school in its district for which comparative data was available at this level. That means no statement can be made about how this school's results compare with those of other schools in the county.
On the housing side, the typical home value in the ZIP code area is modest relative to national benchmarks. The estimated monthly mortgage payment is higher than the estimated rental cost, which is a pattern worth noting for any family weighing whether to buy or rent. The area's unemployment rate and median household income hover around national norms.
The Dickson County district did not have any major recent changes that were publicly reported and lasting. The district's strategic direction and any programmatic shifts are not captured in the available data.
For a family, Vanleer Elementary is a small, rural elementary school in a quiet town. The academic results suggest a setting where many students are not reaching the state's proficiency targets, particularly in math and science, and where a parent will want to be actively engaged in understanding the school's approach to instruction and intervention. The school's size and grade band mean a close-knit environment, but also a limited range of programming compared to larger elementary schools in more urban or suburban districts. The lack of data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility and special education services leaves gaps in the picture of student support. A parent considering this school should visit, talk with the principal and teachers, and ask directly about how the school addresses the academic challenges visible in the state test results.
See more original research from School Decision →