The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Math. The lowest is 18% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Dodson Elementary
Dodson Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Hermitage, a suburban area of eastern Davidson County. It is part of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County school system and operates on a school campus typical of the area’s residential development. The school draws from a community that has shifted over recent decades from a rural landscape to a thriving suburban district with a mix of retail, tract housing, and a significant technology office presence from Deloitte.
The student body is diverse. The largest group of students is Black, followed by Hispanic students, then white students, with smaller shares identifying as two or more races or Asian. The overall enrollment is moderate for an elementary school that includes a pre-kindergarten program. Information about the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was not available in the public record, nor were counts of students receiving special education services or identified as English learners. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these support populations.
On state assessments administered through Tennessee’s TNReady program, performance varied across subjects. In mathematics, a notable portion of students met state proficiency standards. In science, the share was somewhat lower, and in English language arts, the portion was lower still. Because the school only serves elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available for this school. Compared with other schools across Davidson County’s districts for which a comparison was possible, Dodson’s overall proficiency across tested subjects placed it above the midpoint. That position suggests that, among a relatively small set of schools in the county with reported data, Dodson’s academic results are favorable.
The neighborhood around the school is car-oriented, with major thoroughfares including Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 70. A WeGo Star commuter rail station provides some transit access, but daily life generally requires a vehicle. The area’s housing market offers a range from starter homes to larger executive-style houses. Typical home values have seen a slight decline recently, as have rents, though both remain at levels common in suburban Nashville. Renting a typical apartment currently costs less than a monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home, which may affect family housing decisions. The Hermitage historic site, Andrew Jackson’s former home, and Percy Priest Lake serve as major recreational and cultural anchors. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association is also based in Hermitage, and the area has a joint Chamber of Commerce with neighboring Donelson.
No significant district-level changes affecting parents were found in public sources for the recent period. The school’s program offerings beyond the standard elementary curriculum were not described in the available data. For a family looking at Dodson Elementary, the school presents a moderately sized, diverse elementary setting with a mixed academic profile. Math achievement stands out as an area of relative strength, while English language arts is a softer spot. The suburban Hermitage environment offers typical amenities and a range of housing. A parent may wish to follow up with the school for more detail on how the school supports students who need extra help, since public data on those specific programs and population counts was not published.
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