Bess T Shepherd Elementary School

bts.hcde.org/

546 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Bess T. Shepherd Elementary School, located on Tyner Road in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a public elementary school serving students in the Hamilton County School District. The school is situated in a suburban area of East Chattanooga, providing educational services to a diverse student body from the surrounding community. As part of the Hamilton County system, the school is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment that emphasizes core academic standards while encouraging social and emotional growth among its elementary-age students.

The school is well-regarded for its focus on building strong foundations in literacy and mathematics, often utilizing community-based partnerships to enhance the student experience. With a mission centered on preparing children for future academic success, Bess T. Shepherd focuses on providing a structured curriculum combined with extracurricular opportunities that promote well-rounded development. Its location near major regional arteries makes it an accessible hub for local families, and the school remains an active participant in the broader Chattanooga educational landscape.

546

Total Students

37.5

Full-Time Teachers

14.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Bess T Shepherd Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	52
Hispanic	183
Black	257
Asian	12
Two or More	42

Black
257 (47.1%)
Hispanic
183 (33.5%)
White
52 (9.5%)
Two or More
42 (7.7%)
Asian
12 (2.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	Yes
District:	Hamilton County
Phone:	(423)855-2611
Website:	http://bts.hcde.org/
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	546
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	37.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 6

Kindergarten 89

Grade 1 90

Grade 2 87

Grade 3 92

Grade 4 97

Grade 5 85

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Bess T Shepherd Elementary School
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	6
Kindergarten	89
Grade 1	90
Grade 2	87
Grade 3	92
Grade 4	97
Grade 5	85

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Bess T Shepherd Elementary School
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	268	49.1%
Male	278	50.9%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)