The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Social studies. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Toone Elementary
Toone Elementary is a regular public school in rural Hardeman County, Tennessee, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report, a gap that reflects the school’s grade band rather than any missing data.
The school is small. Its student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Black students and smaller numbers of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those support structures.
On Tennessee’s state assessments, Toone Elementary’s results present a mixed picture. In English language arts, roughly two out of every five students scored at or above the proficient level. In math, the share was lower, closer to three out of ten students. Science proficiency was similar to English language arts, with just under two out of five students meeting the bar. Social studies had the highest proficiency rate among the tested subjects, though that test was administered to a smaller group of students. Participation rates were complete across all subjects, so the results reflect nearly the entire tested student body. A parent considering this school may want to look into these numbers further with the school, particularly the math proficiency rate, to understand what academic support is available.
The community context matters for understanding the school’s setting. Toone is a very small, predominantly residential town in rural Hardeman County. Historically a railroad town, brick manufacturing was once its major industry. The town is quiet, with a post office, a bank, and a town hall along Main Street. The dominant employer is Kilgore Flares, a defense contractor on the town’s outskirts that manufactures decoy flares for military aircraft. Beyond that, the local economy is limited, and most residents likely commute to nearby Bolivar or Jackson for work. Street life is minimal, given the small population and rural setting, and daily errands require driving. The town is experiencing population decline rather than growth, and no major new housing or commercial development was identified.
The school is part of Hardeman County Schools, the district that serves the county. The district’s recent parent-relevant changes were searched for but little of lasting impact was found, so that area is left as a gap. A comparison of Toone Elementary to other districts within Hardeman County was not possible because there was only one district in the county for the comparison set, so no meaningful positioning relative to nearby districts can be offered.
For a family, Toone Elementary represents a small, rural school in a declining community. The academic proficiency rates, especially in math, are an area where a parent would want to ask more questions. The school’s grade band means that after eighth grade, students would need to transition to a high school elsewhere in the district. The setting is quiet and rural, with limited local amenities, and the town’s population is shrinking, which may factor into a family’s long-term planning.
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