The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Math. The lowest is 22% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Red Boiling Springs Elementary
Red Boiling Springs Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the rural community of Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee. It is part of the Macon County school district. The school’s enrollment is modest for its grade band, and the student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic share and a very small Black population. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as data on students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners, was not available in the data.
The school’s state test results provide a mixed picture. In math, more than four out of ten students scored proficient or above. That rate sits somewhat lower in English language arts, where four in ten met the proficiency mark. In science, the proficiency rate was lower still. The data for social studies is older and from an assessment that has since changed, making it not comparable to current testing. State testing data for the earlier elementary grades was not available, a common pattern for kindergarten through second grade, which are not part of the state’s testing program; the results reported here reflect only students in the tested upper elementary grades. Participation rates on the math, ELA, and science tests were very high, which supports confidence in the reported numbers.
For a family, these results suggest a school where a sizable portion of students are meeting state benchmarks in math, but where proficiency in reading and science is softer. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly around literacy support and early-grade instruction, to understand how the school addresses these areas. The school is a feeder into the county’s middle and high schools, so the academic foundation laid here will matter for later pathways.
Red Boiling Springs is a small town with a deep history as a mineral springs resort, now a quiet, car-dependent community. The town’s heyday was nearly a century ago, and it has been in a long period of economic decline. A Nestlé water bottling plant that was once a major employer closed permanently. Employment today is thin, centered on three historic hotels that remain open, small local businesses, and government services. The housing stock is affordable relative to the state and national benchmarks, with a median home value well below the statewide figure, which reflects the area’s limited economic opportunity. There is no public transit, and the built environment has minimal street life. Civic anchors include a library, a memorial park, and a volunteer fire department that hosts community events.
This is a school for families who are embedded in or drawn to a very small, rural community with a quiet pace and a modest economic base. The housing is affordable, but the local job market offers little outside of hospitality, small business, and county services, meaning many parents likely commute for work. The state assessment data gives a reasonable but not strong academic profile, with room for improvement in ELA and science. For a family deciding between this and another elementary option, the key considerations are the fit of a rural, low-amenity setting and whether the school’s academic supports match a child’s needs in reading and the sciences.
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