The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 47% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Coles Ferry Elementary
Coles Ferry Elementary is a regular public school in Lebanon, Tennessee, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Lebanon Special School District, a PK-8 system families should know feeds into Wilson County Schools for high school. That split district arrangement is a defining feature of schooling in Lebanon: your child will transition between two separate districts after eighth grade unless you live in the small portion of the city zoned directly to Wilson County elementary schools. For Coles Ferry families, that means planning ahead for a district change at a transitional age.
Academically, Coles Ferry’s state test results paint a mixed picture. On Tennessee’s TNReady assessments, roughly half of students scored proficient or above in math, English language arts, and science. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages these subjects together, placed it above the midpoint among the two districts operating within Wilson County. That is a modestly positive signal within a narrow comparison set, but the rates themselves suggest that a significant share of students are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks. Social studies data is older and comes from a different testing regime—the state overhauled both the test name and cut scores since that administration—so it is not useful for current assessment. A parent may want to ask the school how it is addressing the gap between current performance and full proficiency, particularly in math and science.
The student body is diverse. Roughly half of the enrollment is white, with solid representation from Hispanic and Black families, along with smaller shares of Asian and multiracial students. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status is not available in the public records this profile draws on, which is a meaningful gap for any family trying to understand the support systems in place. Given the school’s grade band, there is no graduation rate to report, and no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing ratios was found.
Lebanon itself is a fast-growing city east of Nashville, with a historic town square, several major employers, and ongoing industrial and commercial development. Housing values in the area’s ZIP code are above the state median—monthly mortgage costs and rents both run high relative to national household income benchmarks—reflecting the region’s suburban expansion. The city’s growth has brought new investment and a rising daytime population, but the housing market has tightened accordingly. For families considering Coles Ferry, the school sits in a community that is still building out its infrastructure amid rapid change.
The district context is worth noting. Lebanon Special School District serves only PK-8 within the city, and that split means continuity of curriculum and relationships ends at eighth grade. Some residents may find that arrangement acceptable or even preferable; others may view it as a reason to explore Wilson County’s own elementary options for a single K-12 pathway. The school itself operates as a standard elementary without magnet or charter designation, and its Title I status is not reported.
For a family weighing Coles Ferry, the core considerations are these: the school’s proficiency rates fall in a middle range when placed against the county’s other districts, the student body is racially and ethnically mixed, and the district structure demands a later transition. The gaps in available data—particularly around economic need and special services—mean a parent will want to visit, ask about supports, and see how the school’s day-to-day environment matches what they want for their child.
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