The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Science. The lowest is 43% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Gene W. Brown Elementary
Gene W. Brown Elementary is a regular public school in Hendersonville, Tennessee, serving kindergarten through fifth grade within the Sumner County district. Hendersonville is a suburban city on the shores of Old Hickory Lake, known for its outdoor recreation, a thriving retail base around Indian Lake Village, and a mix of residential neighborhoods. The city has grown substantially over recent decades and was named one of Money magazine’s best places to live in 2021. Schools in Hendersonville are spread across multiple campuses rather than concentrated downtown, and the district has not seen major publicly reported changes or new initiatives recently.
The school enrolls just under four hundred students across kindergarten through fifth grade. The student body is roughly half white, with a substantial Hispanic share of around a quarter to a third, and a smaller Black population along with small numbers of Asian, multiracial, and Native American students. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is not reported, and data on students with disabilities and English learners is also missing, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the level of economic diversity and support services available.
On state assessments, the school’s performance shows a mixed picture. In math, just over half of students scored proficient or above on the TNReady test. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was slightly below half. Science was a bit stronger, with just over half of students meeting the bar. Social studies data is from several years ago and is less reliable because the test changed in the intervening period; at that time, fewer than half of students were proficient. The school’s state testing participation was near universal, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students in the tested grades. A parent considering the school should weigh these proficiency rates, which are around the midpoint, with the understanding that detailed comparisons to other elementary schools in Sumner County are not available through the metrics used here.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate, and the typical metrics for high school outcomes do not apply. There is no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or course access in the data provided. Similarly, information on the school’s programs, such as gifted services or specialized instruction, was not reported.
The housing context in Hendersonville is expensive relative to national norms. Home values are well above the national benchmark, and rents are high as well. The area’s strong demand and suburban growth have driven up prices, making it a more costly place to buy or rent compared to many other parts of the country. This context matters for any family evaluating the balance between school quality and housing affordability.
In short, Gene W. Brown Elementary is a mid-sized suburban elementary school in a growing, lake-oriented city with higher-than-average housing costs. Its academic results on state tests are roughly in the middle range, with math and science a little stronger than reading, and the older social studies data suggests softness in that subject. A family that values a suburban setting with nearby amenities and is comfortable with the housing market may find this school a reasonable match, but should seek out additional details on student support programs and how the school’s performance compares to other local elementary schools through direct inquiry.
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