The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Social studies. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lara Kendall Elementary
Lara Kendall Elementary serves students in grades three through eight in Ridgely, a small rural town in Lake County, West Tennessee. The school is a regular public school and sits within the Lake County district, which is the only school district in the county. The town itself is predominantly residential, with a traditional layout centered on Main Street where town hall is located. Ridgely has experienced a slight population decline in recent years, and median household income is low relative to state and national figures. Housing is split roughly evenly between owner-occupied and renter-occupied units, with modest home values.
The school enrolls a modest number of students for this grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of Black students and a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races. Hispanic students represent a very small portion of enrollment. Information on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, receiving special education services, or classified as English learners was not available in the data provided, so a family looking to understand those dimensions would need to ask the school directly.
Academic performance on the state’s TNReady assessments, which cover the full tested grade range, shows that the share of students scoring at proficient or above is low in most subjects. In math, only about one in ten students reached that level. In English language arts, roughly one in five students were proficient. Science results were similar to ELA, with about one in six students scoring proficient. Social studies showed a somewhat higher rate, with about one in three students meeting the proficiency threshold. These results give a clear picture of where the school sits academically: the majority of students are not yet meeting state benchmarks in reading and math, and the school will likely be a focus for improvement efforts within the district.
Because the school does not serve high school grades, no graduation rate data is available, and no information on chronic absenteeism or disciplinary actions was provided in the data. The county has only one school district, so no direct comparisons to neighboring districts within Lake County are possible. That said, a parent weighing this school against others in the broader region would need to look beyond the county for comparative context.
The school’s grade configuration means that students who attend Lara Kendall will transition to a high school elsewhere after eighth grade, likely within the same district. The district brief did not surface any recent parent-relevant changes such as boundary shifts or program additions, so the operational environment appears stable based on available information.
For a family living in or moving to Ridgely, Lara Kendall Elementary is the local public option for upper elementary and middle school. The town offers limited commercial amenities and basic municipal services. Housing costs are low, which may offset the academic challenges reflected in the test data. A parent considering this school should look into the specific support services available for students who are below grade level, as the proficiency rates suggest that a large proportion of the student body could benefit from targeted intervention. The school’s size and rural setting may appeal to families seeking a smaller, community-anchored environment, while those prioritizing high academic attainment on state measures will find that this school is still working toward that goal.
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