The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Math. The lowest is 48% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Talbott Elementary
Talbott Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the unincorporated community of Talbott, Tennessee, within the Jefferson County school district. The school sits in a rural-to-suburban corridor along US Route 11E between Morristown and Jefferson City, an area where farms, churches, and highway-front residential lots shape the landscape. The community is car-dependent, without a walkable downtown, and residents tend to commute to nearby towns for employment and amenities. The school itself is one of the civic anchors in Talbott, alongside a post office and a church.
The student body is comparatively homogeneous. Most students are white, with a small share identifying as two or more races, a modest Hispanic presence, and negligible representation of other racial groups. The school serves about that size of a student population across its grade span, which runs from prekindergarten through fifth grade. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts of students with individualized education programs or English learner designations, were not provided, so a family wanting to understand the school's economic diversity or the extent of its special education support would need to ask the school directly.
On state assessments, the school shows a varied picture. In math, the majority of tested students reached the proficient level or above on the TNReady exam, a performance that sits above the midpoint among the county's districts—though it is worth noting that Jefferson County has very few districts for comparison. In English language arts, roughly half of students met the same benchmark, leaving a significant share below that line. Science results were similar, with about half of students scoring proficient or above. Social studies data is older and from a different assessment format than the current one, so it is not directly comparable, but showed a similar proportion. Participation rates were high across the tested subjects. A parent considering the school may want to look into the literacy results further and ask what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting the ELA standard.
Because Talbott Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. That is not a weakness; it simply reflects the school's grade configuration. The school has no charter status and no magnet designation.
The Jefferson County district has implemented a several initiatives that affect Talbott Elementary. All students in grades three through five now have Chromebooks through a district-wide 1:1 device initiative, which has shifted how instruction is delivered and how homework is assigned. The district also adopted a new English Language Arts curriculum aligned with Tennessee state standards, replacing the prior reading program across all elementary schools. That means the approach to reading instruction that students experience at Talbott is relatively new and district-mandated.
Housing in the area is priced at a level that falls below the state average, which may be a practical consideration for families looking to live within walking distance or a short drive of the school. The area has seen modest growth, with a recent annexation of part of Talbott along the highway corridor by the city of Morristown signaling commercial and residential pressure. The locale is gradually growing but remains low-density.
For a family, Talbott Elementary offers a straightforward elementary program in a small, rural community setting. The district has invested in technology and a new reading curriculum. The math results are a clear strength, while the ELA and science results are more mixed, and the lack of detail on free lunch rates and special education counts means a parent should plan to ask about those directly. The school's small size and unincorporated location mean it will appeal most to families who want a neighborhood elementary school in a quiet, car-oriented area rather than a larger, more diverse or urban school environment.
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