Cowan Elementary

Summary:

Cowan Elementary is a public elementary school in Cowan, Tennessee, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 279. The school is part of the Franklin County School District, which is ranked 109 out of 139 districts in Tennessee and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Cowan Elementary faces several challenges, including lower academic performance compared to the state and county averages. The school's proficiency rates in Mathematics (37.5%) and English Language Arts (33.1%) are below the state averages of 39.7% and 37.6%, respectively. Additionally, Cowan Elementary's statewide ranking has fluctuated between 542 and 693 out of 1,000-1,020 Tennessee elementary schools over the past few years, earning a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on standardized tests varies significantly among different student subgroups, with female students (574th rank) and white students (606th rank) performing lower than the state averages, while special education students (451st rank) and low socioeconomic status students (436th rank) also struggle academically.

Compared to nearby schools, such as North Lake Elementary, Broadview Elementary, and Sewanee Elementary, Cowan Elementary's academic performance is generally lower, with higher proficiency rates and better statewide rankings. Additionally, Cowan Elementary has experienced a gradual decline in its student population, from 91.32% white students in 2020-2021 to 87.81% in 2022-2023, suggesting a potential decrease in racial diversity within the school.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 501 East Cumberland ST
       Cowan, TN  37318


(931) 967-7353

District: Franklin County

SchoolDigger Rank:
641st of 1,018 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,784 Help


Students who attend Cowan Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    South Middle School
High:    Franklin County High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.4 Help
Number of students:  262

Racial breakdown:

White:
86.6%
African American:
5.0%
Hispanic:
4.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  70.5% Help


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 Compare Cowan Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Cowan Elementary ranks worse than 63% of elementary schools in Tennessee. It also ranks 4th among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Franklin County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.54. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (86.6%), African American (5%), Hispanic (4.2%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cowan Elementary is 15.4. 5 elementary schools in the Franklin County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Cowan Elementary employs 17 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cowan Elementary is $13,784, which is the 3rd highest among 7 elementary schools in the Franklin County School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Cowan Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Cowan Elementary 641st of 1018 Tennessee public elementary schools. (See Cowan Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Franklin County:

SchoolDigger ranks Franklin County 111th of 140 Tennessee school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Cowan Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Cowan Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 53.98 397th 809 50.9%
2011 46.42 479th 818 41.4%
2012 38.38 565th 820 31.1%
2013 42.91 627th 846 25.9%
2014 39.87 575th 853 32.6%
2015 35.42 640th 855 25.1%
2017 20.33 582nd 646 9.9%
2018 28.12 731st 997 26.7%
2019 36.10 630th 985 36.0%
2021 39.05 577th 983 41.3%
2022 31.62 693rd 1000 30.7%
2023 45.30 542nd 1020 46.9%
2024 37.54 641st 1018 37.0%
See the entire list of Tennessee Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Cowan Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 33.11 177th 255 30.6%
2024 27.10 453rd 582 22.2%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Cowan Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.52 564th 877 35.7%
2019 19.45 745th 821 9.3%
2021 40.51 464th 823 43.6%
2022 23.27 730th 858 14.9%
2023 45.37 462nd 865 46.6%
2024 46.33 438th 853 48.7%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Cowan Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 44.76 485th 926 47.6%
2021 42.50 516th 945 45.4%
2022 27.46 711th 975 27.1%
2023 45.67 514th 989 48.0%
2024 40.90 579th 990 41.5%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Cowan Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 22.68 751st 916 18.0%
2021 34.46 603rd 941 35.9%
2022 41.16 550th 980 43.9%
2023 42.73 555th 987 43.8%
2024 34.63 653rd 991 34.1%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Cowan Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.54 750th 841 10.8%
2019 30.66 615th 812 24.3%
2021 32.11 599th 844 29.0%
2022 22.99 708th 844 16.1%
2023 37.36 547th 852 35.8%
2024 31.24 611th 847 27.9%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Tennessee Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Cowan Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Cowan Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 264 35 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 299
1989 253 29 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 282
1990 276 24 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 302
1991 294 28 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 324
1992 301 29 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 332
1993 306 25 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 331
1994 322 26 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 348
1995 307 21 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 332
1996 307 21 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 332
1997 533 97 4 9 0 n/a n/a 5 648
1998 308 24 1 2 0 n/a n/a -1 334
1999 294 30 3 3 0 n/a n/a -1 329
2000 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 296 296
2002 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 324 324
2003 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 324 324
2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 369 369
2006 306 35 1 8 0 n/a n/a 0 350
2007 291 24 2 6 3 n/a n/a 0 326
2008 270 29 3 5 0 n/a n/a 0 307
2009 279 23 2 9 0 n/a n/a 0 313
2010 298 25 3 9 0 n/a n/a 0 335
2011 306 16 5 10 0 0 2 0 339
2012 360 19 4 10 0 0 3 0 396
2013 288 16 3 5 0 0 6 0 318
2014 263 22 1 7 0 0 2 0 295
2015 247 21 1 10 0 0 2 0 281
2016 230 15 0 8 2 0 3 0 258
2017 241 22 1 3 0 0 3 0 270
2018 244 16 0 2 0 0 0 0 262
2019 238 21 0 3 0 0 2 0 264
2020 233 10 0 3 0 0 7 0 253
2021 242 10 0 3 1 0 9 0 265
2022 242 11 0 3 2 0 12 0 270
2023 245 13 0 4 3 0 14 0 279
2024 227 13 0 11 0 0 11 0 262

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Cowan Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 299 17.0 17.5 n/a
1989 282 17.0 16.5 n/a
1990 302 16.0 18.8 n/a
1991 324 16.0 20.2 n/a
1992 332 16.0 20.7 n/a
1993 331 16.0 20.7 n/a
1994 348 16.0 21.8 n/a
1995 332 23.0 14.4 n/a
1996 332 23.0 14.4 n/a
1997 648 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 334 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 329 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 296 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 324 n/a n/a n/a
2003 324 n/a n/a n/a
2005 369 n/a n/a n/a
2006 350 27.0 13.0 n/a
2007 326 27.0 12.1 65.6
2008 307 27.0 11.4 76.9
2009 313 27.0 11.6 63.9
2010 335 30.0 11.1 64.8
2011 339 29.0 11.6 72.9
2012 396 30.0 13.2 59.6
2013 318 28.0 11.3 65.7
2014 295 29.0 10.1 68.5
2015 281 24.0 11.7 60.9
2016 258 24.0 10.7 70.5
2017 270 21.2 12.7 n/a
2018 262 19.0 13.7 n/a
2019 264 19.0 13.8 n/a
2020 253 17.0 14.8 n/a
2021 265 16.5 16.0 n/a
2022 270 20.0 13.5 n/a
2023 279 19.5 14.3 n/a
2024 262 17.0 15.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Cowan Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 299 17.0 17.5 n/a
1989 282 17.0 16.5 n/a
1990 302 16.0 18.8 n/a
1991 324 16.0 20.2 n/a
1992 332 16.0 20.7 n/a
1993 331 16.0 20.7 n/a
1994 348 16.0 21.8 n/a
1995 332 23.0 14.4 n/a
1996 332 23.0 14.4 n/a
1997 648 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 334 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 329 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 296 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 324 n/a n/a n/a
2003 324 n/a n/a n/a
2005 369 n/a n/a n/a
2006 350 27.0 13.0 n/a
2007 326 27.0 12.1 65.6
2008 307 27.0 11.4 76.9
2009 313 27.0 11.6 63.9
2010 335 30.0 11.1 64.8
2011 339 29.0 11.6 72.9
2012 396 30.0 13.2 59.6
2013 318 28.0 11.3 65.7
2014 295 29.0 10.1 68.5
2015 281 24.0 11.7 60.9
2016 258 24.0 10.7 70.5
2017 270 21.2 12.7 n/a
2018 262 19.0 13.7 n/a
2019 264 19.0 13.8 n/a
2020 253 17.0 14.8 n/a
2021 265 16.5 16.0 n/a
2022 270 20.0 13.5 n/a
2023 279 19.5 14.3 n/a
2024 262 17.0 15.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Cowan Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,555 (13.4%) $9,306 (80.3%) $11,586
2020 $1,668 (13.6%) $9,602 (78.3%) $12,258
2021 $2,058 (16.8%) $9,277 (75.6%) $12,275
2022 $3,237 (23.4%) $9,760 (70.6%) $13,827
2023 $3,136 (22.8%) $9,633 (69.9%) $13,784

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Cowan Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 630th of 985 Elementary schoolsRanks 542nd of 1020 Elementary schools
 10.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Cowan Elementary)32.522.9
 9.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Franklin County)3233.6
 1.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Tennessee)43.840.5
 3.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cowan Elementary)2539.6
 14.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Franklin County)3235.3
 3.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Tennessee)36.940.5
 3.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Cowan Elementary)1953.8
 34.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Franklin County)30.735
 4.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Tennessee)4643.6
 2.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Cowan Elementary)16.743.6
 26.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Franklin County)2940.7
 11.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Tennessee)34.343.5
 9.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Cowan Elementary)55.338.5
 16.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Franklin County)37.436.1
 1.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Tennessee)46.241.3
 4.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Cowan Elementary)39.525.6
 13.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Franklin County)30.830.4
 0.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Tennessee)35.237
 1.8%
All Grades Mathematics (Cowan Elementary)3537.3
 2.3%
   All Grades Mathematics (Franklin County)27.827.4
 0.4%
   All Grades Mathematics (Tennessee)40.838.1
 2.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Cowan Elementary)26.736.5
 9.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Franklin County)27.128.6
 1.5%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Tennessee)33.736.6
 2.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students264279
 5.7%
African American2113
 38.1%
American Indian03
Asian00
Hispanic34
 33.3%
Pacific Islander00
White238245
 2.9%
Two or More Races214
 600%


Schools Near Cowan Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Cowan Elementary

In the 2023-24 school year, 262 students attended Cowan Elementary.

Students who attend Cowan Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : South Middle School
High : Franklin County High School

Cowan Elementary ranks 641st of 1018 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Cowan Elementary are 87% White, 5% African American, 4% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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