The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Science. The lowest is 39% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Philadelphia Elementary
Philadelphia Elementary serves children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the small, rural town of Philadelphia, Tennessee. It is a regular public school within the Loudon County district, not a charter or magnet. Because it ends at grade 8, there is no high school graduation rate to report, and the state testing results cover only grades 3 through 8, which is the typical band for Tennessee’s TNReady assessments.
On those tests, the school’s overall proficiency across math, English language arts, science, and social studies places it in the upper portion compared to other Loudon County districts. Within that countywide comparison, Philadelphia Elementary’s results are stronger in math and science than they are in reading and social studies. In math, a majority of students met the state’s proficiency benchmark, and in science the share was above half. In English language arts, just under half of students scored proficient. Social studies showed the weakest performance, with a smaller share reaching the proficient level. Nearly all enrolled students took the tests, which gives confidence that the reported numbers reflect the full student body.
Demographically, the school’s enrollment is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and a very small number of students who identify as two or more races. Information on students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners was not reported in the data available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about these supports. Similarly, no information on discipline, course access, or staffing was included, which limits a full picture of the school environment.
Philadelphia is a very small town concentrated around the junction of U.S. Route 11 and a state route connecting west to Interstate 75. Its built environment is highway-oriented and low-density, with limited commercial activity and a residential-rural feel. The school sits within the town itself, integrated into the community rather than on a separate campus. For high school, students are zoned to Loudon High School in the nearby town of Loudon, meaning families with older children will need to plan for that commute. The town has a city hall and sits along Sweetwater Creek, but no dedicated parks, library, or public transit were identified in publicly available information. Population growth has been modest, and the housing stock shows a small vacancy rate. Home values in the area are somewhat below the Tennessee state median, and the mortgage-to-rent comparison suggests that buying may be more expensive than renting at current interest rates, though the town remains more affordable than many parts of the state.
No parent-relevant changes, such as new policies, curriculum shifts, or tax referendums, were found for the Loudon County district in recent publicly reported material. That absence means there is no evidence of major upheaval or reform that would affect a family’s day-to-day experience. The district operates without widely noted disruption.
Overall, Philadelphia Elementary offers a solid academic foundation in the core subjects, with math and science as relative strengths and room for improvement in reading and social studies. Its small-town setting and K-8 structure create a contained, community-anchored pathway through the elementary and middle grades, after which students move to a larger high school outside town. Families looking for a rural school with a close-knit feel and average to above-average test outcomes within the county will find this school fits that description. The gaps in reported data on economic status and special programs are worth investigating further with the school.
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