The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Math. The lowest is 41% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on North Sumner Elementary
North Sumner Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the small unincorporated community of Bethpage, part of Sumner County. It is a small school, drawing from a rural residential area along the U.S. Route 31E corridor northeast of Gallatin. The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and even smaller numbers of Black students and students of two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a parent looking for a full picture of the school’s economic and support demographics would want to ask the school directly.
On the most recent state assessments, just over half of North Sumner students scored at or above Tennessee’s proficiency standard in math. In English language arts, the share was similar. In science, roughly half were proficient. Social studies results date back several years and are not comparable to current assessments due to changes in the test and cut scores, so they are not a reliable measure of current performance. Participation rates for the reported subjects were very high, meaning the results reflect nearly all enrolled students. For an elementary school, these are mainstream proficiency levels, neither exceptionally high nor low relative to what many schools across the state show. A parent looking for a school where most students are meeting grade-level benchmarks would find North Sumner in that middle range.
The school runs a standard elementary program through grade five. No specialized programs, magnet themes, or charter status were reported, and because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate or college-career pathway data to consider. The school’s website and directory listings describe it as a regular public school. Students beyond elementary age attend middle and high schools elsewhere in Sumner County, likely in Gallatin or other nearby communities, so families should factor those feeder schools into their longer view.
Bethpage is a low-density, unincorporated community without a traditional downtown. The U.S. Post Office and the elementary school itself serve as the main civic anchors along the highway corridor. There are no public parks, libraries, or transit within town that were identified in public sources, so families likely rely on amenities in Gallatin or other parts of Sumner County. The housing market consists primarily of owner-occupied homes on residential lots, with modest population growth in recent years and no major new developments reported. Home values sit near the middle of the range for the broader region. The area’s quiet, rural character suits families who prefer a slower pace and are willing to drive for shopping, services, and secondary schools.
No recent district-level changes at Sumner County were found that would affect North Sumner families directly, though district policies on curriculum, staffing, and facility investments would be worth following. Because the comparison set for the school—other districts within Sumner County—contains only the one district, no meaningful ranking or peer comparison can be made here. The school stands on its own in this context.
For a parent considering North Sumner, the picture is straightforward: a small, predominantly white elementary school in a rural setting where a slim majority of students meet state standards in core subjects. The lack of data on student support programs, discipline, and chronic absenteeism means those are areas to investigate directly with the school. The community is residential and quiet, with slow growth and limited civic amenities, which may appeal to some families and feel too sparse to others. The next step for any family would be to visit the school, talk to staff about services for students who need extra help or enrichment, and learn which middle and high schools their child would eventually attend.
See more original research from School Decision →