The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Math. The lowest is 46% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Dan Mills Elementary
Dan Mills Elementary is a regular public school in Nashville, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Davidson County school district, Metro Nashville Public Schools. The school is located in the 37216 zip code northeast of downtown, a part of the city that mixes older residential streets with commercial corridors like Gallatin Pike.
The school’s enrollment is sizable for an elementary. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic minority and a smaller Black share. The school did not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor did it report the share of students receiving special education services or designated as English learners. A parent who wants to understand the level of economic diversity or the extent of language support programs would need to ask the school directly for this information.
On state assessments, Dan Mills Elementary delivered solid results. In math, roughly two-thirds of students scored at a proficient level or above. In English language arts, nearly three-fifths did. Science proficiency stood just above the midpoint, with a bit over half of students reaching the proficient threshold. The school has not participated in recent social studies testing, as Tennessee’s social studies assessment underwent changes that make direct comparison difficult and results from a prior year are too old to be meaningful.
When compared with other school districts within Davidson County, Dan Mills Elementary’s combined proficiency across tested subjects places it in the top quarter. This is a strong showing in a county where the tested districts span a wide range of performance. A parent looking at options within the county will find that this school’s academic results are among the stronger ones available at the elementary level.
The broader housing context matters for families deciding where to live. Home values in the 37216 zip code sit well above the typical Tennessee home price, though they have slipped somewhat year-over-year. Rents have edged up slightly over the same period. Buying a home in the area demands a substantial income; the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home is significantly higher than the estimated rent for a typical unit. This means that families who want to buy near Dan Mills face a steep affordability challenge, while renters may find the market more manageable.
Nashville itself functions as a large, fast-growing metropolitan center. It is the state capital and a hub for the music industry, healthcare, and technology. The city has a consolidated city-county government and a sprawling footprint that makes car ownership a near necessity outside of the dense downtown core. The school’s neighborhood sits away from the downtown epicenter in a more established, somewhat quieter corridor of the city.
The district brief found no publicly reported major changes within Metro Nashville Public Schools in recent years that would directly affect families at the school. That does not mean the district is static, only that no widely covered policy shifts, boundary changes, or program launches emerged from the search. A parent considering Dan Mills Elementary would want to check with the school directly about any upcoming adjustments to attendance zones or program offerings.
Dan Mills Elementary is a high-performing regular public school in a large, growing city. Its test results are strong for the county, its enrollment is large, and it serves a student population that is predominantly white and significantly Hispanic. The school does not report several common demographic and support indicators, so families with specific needs around income-based supports or English learner services should investigate further. The neighborhood is expensive to buy into, though renting is more attainable, and the school sits in a mid-density, car-dependent urban setting within one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country.
See more original research from School Decision →