Lipscomb Elementary in Brentwood earned the No. 7 spot among all Tennessee elementary schools in U.S. News & World Report's 2027 rankings, scoring 99.13 out of 100.

Three Brentwood middle schools also cracked the state's top 10. Brentwood Middle placed No. 6, Woodland Middle No. 7 and Sunset Middle No. 8, according to the rankings released Oct. 20. Clovercroft Elementary in Franklin, also part of Williamson County Schools (WCS), ranked No. 5 statewide, as first reported by the Tennessean.

The rankings evaluated schools on math and reading state assessment scores from the 2023-2024 school year. Half the formula measured raw proficiency, and the other half weighed test results against socioeconomic factors, according to U.S. News' methodology page. U.S. News ranked 690 elementary schools and 424 middle schools in Tennessee.

"We are so proud of our elementary schools receiving such high accolades," WCS Executive Director of Elementary Schools Brent Oakley said in coverage published by Williamson Source. "It reflects the extraordinary efforts of our students, teachers, support staff, school leaders and families."

How Brentwood and Nolensville elementary schools fared

At Lipscomb Elementary, 80% of students scored at or above the proficient level in math and 82% in reading, according to U.S. News. Both figures topped the Williamson County district averages of 75% in math and 66% in reading.

Several other Brentwood elementary schools ranked in the top 100 statewide:

  • Jordan Elementary: No. 16 (score 97.82), with 88% math proficiency and 79% reading proficiency
  • Crockett Elementary: No. 21 (score 97.1), with 84% math and 78% reading
  • Edmondson Elementary: No. 29 (score 95.94), with 81% math and 79% reading
  • College Grove Elementary: No. 39 (score 94.48), with 79% math and 76% reading
  • Grassland Elementary: No. 41 (score 94.19), with 77% math and 80% reading
  • Scales Elementary: No. 55 (score 92.16), with 81% math and 64% reading
  • Kenrose Elementary: No. 60 (score 91.44), with 79% math and 73% reading

Mill Creek Elementary in Nolensville ranked No. 103 with a score of 85.2. Nolensville Elementary placed No. 114 with a score of 83.6. Sunset Elementary in Brentwood ranked No. 162 with a score of 76.63.

Arrington Elementary was listed as unranked. The school reported 70% math proficiency and 69% reading proficiency, but U.S. News did not assign it a ranking. The reason was not specified.

Middle school results

Brentwood Middle scored 98.82 out of 100, with 83% of students proficient in math and 77% in reading. Both rates exceeded the district's middle school averages of 67% in math and 57% in reading.

Sunset Middle scored 98.35, with 85% math proficiency and 53% reading proficiency. Mill Creek Middle in Nolensville ranked No. 45 with a score of 89.6, posting 63% math proficiency and 57% reading proficiency.

WCS Executive Director of Secondary Schools Heather Hayes said in Williamson Source coverage that the recognition reflects "the hard work, determination and growth of our students, as well as the dedicated teachers and administrators who make a difference in their lives every single day."

The top four elementary schools statewide were all academic magnet schools, the Tennessean reported. Lipscomb and Clovercroft were the highest-ranked traditional neighborhood schools in Tennessee. All three top-10 Brentwood middle schools are traditional schools; the top five middle schools statewide are magnets or laboratory schools.

Williamson County Schools serves 41,593 students across 52 schools, according to U.S. News' district profile. The district spends $12,064 per student each year and reports a 99.3% high school graduation rate.