The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bel Aire Elementary
Bel Aire Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Tullahoma, a city that mixes residential neighborhoods with a significant aerospace research presence anchored by the Arnold Engineering Development Complex and the University of Tennessee Space Institute. The school is part of the Tullahoma city district, which operates its own K-12 system. The town is car-dependent, with a traditional downtown square and steady but slow growth driven by education, services, tourism, and retail rather than manufacturing. No major recent changes to the district were identified in publicly available sources.
The school enrolls a moderate-sized student body for an elementary school. The student population is predominantly white, with a smaller share of students who are two or more races and smaller still who are Black or Hispanic. Information on the share of students receiving free or reduced-price meals was not reported, and data on students with disabilities and English learners was also absent. These gaps make it difficult to assess the socioeconomic and support-need profile of the school.
On state assessments, Bel Aire’s proficiency rates fall short of the midpoint among districts in Coffee County. In math, fewer than a third of students scored at the proficient level. In English language arts, about two in five students met that mark. Science proficiency was similar to the ELA rate. Participation on test day was essentially universal, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students. A social studies score from several years ago was reported but the state has since changed both the test and the cut scores, making that older data incomparable and best set aside. For a family looking at academic performance at the elementary level, the numbers point to a school where the majority of students are not yet meeting state expectations in core subjects, and where outcomes trail those of other Coffee County districts.
No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, or course access, so a fuller picture of school climate and daily operations is not possible from the records here. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. No special programs, such as magnet or career pathways, were identified in the information provided.
Tullahoma’s setting offers some distinctive community assets: proximity to Tims Ford Lake and Woods Reservoir for outdoor recreation, a fine arts center, a performing arts venue, a hands-on science center, and annual events like a Celtic festival and a soapbox derby. Housing in the area is priced at a level that makes the typical home somewhat less expensive than the state median, though rent consumes a notable share of household income. The local economy is anchored by the Air Force testing complex and related engineering firms, with higher education through a community college and a graduate space institute nearby.
For parents, Bel Aire Elementary represents a standard public school in a midsized Tennessee town with an unusual aerospace identity. The main academic takeaway is that proficiency rates are below those of other districts in Coffee County, which a parent may want to explore further with the school to understand the school’s approach to instruction and any support programs in place. The absence of data on free lunch eligibility, special education, and English learner services means families should ask the school directly about the full student profile and what resources are available for students who need extra help.
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