J. R. Baker Elementary

Summary:

J. R. Baker Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-4 in Columbia, Tennessee, with 327 students and part of the Maury County School District, which is ranked 95 out of 139 districts in the state.

J. R. Baker Elementary stands out for its diverse student population, with 51.38% White, 22.32% African American, 16.82% Hispanic, and 7.65% two or more races, which is higher than nearby schools like Marvin Wright Elementary, Spring Hill Elementary, and Battle Creek Elementary. The school has also shown strong academic performance, particularly in science, where it outperforms the Maury County and Tennessee averages across all grades. However, the school lags behind some higher-performing nearby schools, such as J E Woodard Elementary, which have stronger overall academic results and higher statewide rankings.

While J. R. Baker Elementary has a significant population of low-socioeconomic status students, which may contribute to its academic challenges, the school has shown signs of improvement, moving from a 1-star rating in 2011-2012 to a 3-star rating in 2020-2021 and 2023-2024. However, the school's performance for special education students is an area of concern, with the school ranking 439 out of 447 Tennessee elementary schools in this subgroup in 2021-2022, receiving a 0-star rating. Additionally, the school has experienced a decline in enrollment over the past few years, with the percentage of White students decreasing from 60.29% in 2020-2021 to 51.38% in 2022-2023, while the percentage of African American and Hispanic students has increased.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-4

 1301 Hamphire PIKE
       Columbia, TN  38401


(931) 388-3319

District: Maury County

SchoolDigger Rank:
376th of 1,018 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,845 Help


Students who attend J. R. Baker Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Whitthorne Middle School
High:    Columbia Central High School

Student/teacher ratio:  11.3 Help
Number of students:  323

Racial breakdown:

White:
52.0%
Hispanic:
18.9%
African American:
17.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  53.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details J. R. Baker Elementary ranks better than 63.1% of elementary schools in Tennessee. It also ranks 4th among 10 ranked elementary schools in the Maury County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 58.28. (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 Student population at J. R. Baker Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (52%), Hispanic (18.9%), African American (17%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at J. R. Baker Elementary is 11.3, which is the 3rd best among 10 elementary schools in the Maury County School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare J. R. Baker Elementary employs 28.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at J. R. Baker Elementary is $14,845, which is the 3rd highest among 10 elementary schools in the Maury County School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

J. R. Baker Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks J. R. Baker Elementary 376th of 1018 Tennessee public elementary schools. (See J. R. Baker Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Maury County:

SchoolDigger ranks Maury County 95th of 140 Tennessee school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for J. R. Baker Elementary

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Rank History for all students at J. R. Baker Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 33.03 594th 809 26.6%
2011 87.32 92nd 818 88.8%
2012 23.21 701st 820 14.5%
2013 52.14 509th 846 39.8%
2014 53.10 392nd 853 54.0%
2015 68.11 254th 855 70.3%
2018 50.29 449th 997 55.0%
2019 43.94 527th 985 46.5%
2021 47.86 459th 983 53.3%
2022 42.80 546th 1000 45.4%
2023 46.98 511th 1020 49.9%
2024 58.28 376th 1018 63.1%
See the entire list of Tennessee Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at J. R. Baker Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 30.18 270th 369 26.8%
2022 16.46 439th 447 1.8%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at J. R. Baker Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.27 146th 877 83.4%
2021 54.26 296th 823 64.0%
2022 39.13 520th 858 39.4%
2023 19.88 764th 865 11.7%
2024 76.30 106th 853 87.6%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at J. R. Baker Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 39.23 562nd 926 39.3%
2021 55.61 348th 945 63.2%
2022 45.80 494th 975 49.3%
2023 46.82 504th 989 49.0%
2024 64.70 282nd 990 71.5%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at J. R. Baker Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 46.91 445th 916 51.4%
2021 37.07 570th 941 39.4%
2022 37.60 595th 980 39.3%
2023 44.96 522nd 987 47.1%
2024 49.67 471st 991 52.5%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at J. R. Baker Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.03 229th 450 49.1%
2019 55.41 137th 404 66.1%
2021 51.60 142nd 411 65.5%
2022 70.23 91st 483 81.2%
2023 56.38 179th 500 64.2%
2024 60.59 160th 498 67.9%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at J. R. Baker Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 73.35 54th 324 83.3%
2024 54.54 165th 415 60.2%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at J. R. Baker Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.68 366th 841 56.5%
2019 42.21 450th 812 44.6%
2021 41.70 473rd 844 44.0%
2022 37.69 523rd 844 38.0%
2023 49.05 394th 852 53.8%
2024 58.70 285th 847 66.4%
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.

J. R. Baker 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 J. R. Baker Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 506 82 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 589
1989 493 83 1 1 n/a n/a n/a 0 578
1990 522 97 6 5 0 n/a n/a 0 630
1991 398 139 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1992 424 148 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 575
1993 411 153 1 11 0 n/a n/a 0 576
1994 387 152 1 16 3 n/a n/a 0 559
1995 350 140 3 12 2 n/a n/a 0 507
1996 350 140 3 12 2 n/a n/a 0 507
1997 350 127 3 14 1 n/a n/a -7 488
1998 381 104 2 11 1 n/a n/a 0 499
1999 334 144 3 12 1 n/a n/a 0 494
2000 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 434 434
2001 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 376 376
2002 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 339 339
2003 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 339 339
2004 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 358 358
2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 378 378
2006 286 69 1 16 1 n/a n/a 0 373
2007 306 65 0 19 1 n/a n/a 0 391
2008 309 77 1 13 1 n/a n/a 0 401
2009 319 70 0 23 1 n/a n/a 0 413
2010 299 72 3 32 2 n/a n/a 0 408
2011 197 68 3 37 1 0 2 0 308
2012 189 75 4 40 1 0 3 0 312
2013 194 87 3 28 2 0 4 0 318
2014 199 82 4 27 1 0 11 0 324
2015 212 82 6 31 1 0 0 0 332
2016 203 67 4 37 1 0 5 0 317
2017 230 60 3 49 1 0 5 0 348
2018 235 61 6 46 1 0 13 0 362
2019 195 62 4 53 0 0 20 0 334
2020 200 74 3 63 0 0 17 0 357
2021 205 62 6 48 0 0 19 0 340
2022 196 64 5 57 0 1 15 0 338
2023 168 73 5 55 1 0 25 0 327
2024 168 55 7 61 1 0 31 0 323

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 J. R. Baker Elementary

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 589 29.0 20.3 n/a
1989 578 32.0 18.0 n/a
1990 630 32.0 19.6 n/a
1991 540 26.0 20.7 n/a
1992 575 26.0 22.1 n/a
1993 576 26.0 22.2 n/a
1994 559 32.0 17.5 n/a
1995 507 30.0 16.9 n/a
1996 507 30.0 16.9 n/a
1997 488 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 499 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 494 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 434 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 376 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 339 n/a n/a n/a
2003 339 n/a n/a n/a
2004 358 n/a n/a n/a
2005 378 n/a n/a n/a
2006 373 24.0 15.5 n/a
2007 391 25.0 15.6 47.1
2008 401 25.0 16.0 50.9
2009 413 25.0 16.5 57.1
2010 408 24.0 17.0 59.6
2011 308 23.0 13.3 78.9
2012 312 21.0 14.8 69.2
2013 318 24.0 13.2 72.6
2014 324 22.0 14.7 65.7
2015 332 23.0 14.4 49.7
2016 317 22.0 14.4 74.1
2017 348 24.1 14.4 n/a
2018 362 22.9 15.8 n/a
2019 334 23.0 14.5 n/a
2020 357 25.9 13.7 53.2
2021 340 28.7 11.8 n/a
2022 338 28.0 12.0 n/a
2023 327 26.0 12.5 n/a
2024 323 28.5 11.3 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 J. R. Baker Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 589 29.0 20.3 n/a
1989 578 32.0 18.0 n/a
1990 630 32.0 19.6 n/a
1991 540 26.0 20.7 n/a
1992 575 26.0 22.1 n/a
1993 576 26.0 22.2 n/a
1994 559 32.0 17.5 n/a
1995 507 30.0 16.9 n/a
1996 507 30.0 16.9 n/a
1997 488 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 499 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 494 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 434 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 376 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 339 n/a n/a n/a
2003 339 n/a n/a n/a
2004 358 n/a n/a n/a
2005 378 n/a n/a n/a
2006 373 24.0 15.5 n/a
2007 391 25.0 15.6 47.1
2008 401 25.0 16.0 50.9
2009 413 25.0 16.5 57.1
2010 408 24.0 17.0 59.6
2011 308 23.0 13.3 78.9
2012 312 21.0 14.8 69.2
2013 318 24.0 13.2 72.6
2014 324 22.0 14.7 65.7
2015 332 23.0 14.4 49.7
2016 317 22.0 14.4 74.1
2017 348 24.1 14.4 n/a
2018 362 22.9 15.8 n/a
2019 334 23.0 14.5 n/a
2020 357 25.9 13.7 53.2
2021 340 28.7 11.8 n/a
2022 338 28.0 12.0 n/a
2023 327 26.0 12.5 n/a
2024 323 28.5 11.3 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 J. R. Baker Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $770 (6.7%) $9,949 (86.4%) $11,516
2020 $673 (6.1%) $9,705 (87.8%) $11,057
2021 $954 (7.5%) $11,037 (86.8%) $12,721
2022 $1,688 (12.2%) $11,250 (81.0%) $13,882
2023 $1,737 (11.7%) $12,131 (81.7%) $14,845

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

Impact of COVID-19 on J. R. Baker 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 527th of 985 Elementary schoolsRanks 511th of 1020 Elementary schools
 3.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (J. R. Baker Elementary)37.746.8
 9.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Maury County)35.136.4
 1.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Tennessee)43.840.5
 3.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (J. R. Baker Elementary)3441.3
 7.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Maury County)2637
 11%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Tennessee)36.940.5
 3.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (J. R. Baker Elementary)36.229.5
 6.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Maury County)39.232.3
 6.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Tennessee)4643.6
 2.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (J. R. Baker Elementary)32.831.8
 1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Maury County)26.937.8
 10.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Tennessee)34.343.5
 9.2%
All Grades Mathematics (J. R. Baker Elementary)36.939.6
 2.7%
   All Grades Mathematics (Maury County)25.728.2
 2.5%
   All Grades Mathematics (Tennessee)40.838.1
 2.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (J. R. Baker Elementary)33.337.4
 4.1%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Maury County)23.728.4
 4.7%
   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 Students334327
 2.1%
African American6273
 17.7%
American Indian01
Asian45
 25%
Hispanic5355
 3.8%
Pacific Islander00
White195168
 13.8%
Two or More Races2025
 25%


Schools Near J. R. Baker Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about J. R. Baker Elementary

Students at J. R. Baker Elementary are 52% White, 19% Hispanic, 17% African American, 10% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Students who attend J. R. Baker Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Whitthorne Middle School
High : Columbia Central High School

J. R. Baker Elementary ranks 376th of 1018 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 323 students attended J. R. Baker Elementary.


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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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