The Discovery School

tds.dicksoncountyschools.org/

202 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

The Discovery School, located in Dickson, Tennessee, is a specialized educational institution within the Dickson County School System that focuses on serving gifted and talented students in grades 2 through 8. Unlike traditional zoned schools, The Discovery School functions as a magnet program, requiring students to undergo an application and selection process to gain admission. Its curriculum is designed to be more rigorous and fast-paced than the standard academic track, emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative exploration to meet the unique cognitive needs of high-achieving learners.

Beyond its academic core, the school places a strong emphasis on fostering a collaborative environment where students can engage in project-based learning and inquiry-driven research. By grouping gifted students together, the school aims to provide a social and intellectual community that challenges pupils to reach their full potential. The program is a distinct component of the local district's offerings, providing an alternative learning pathway for families seeking an accelerated educational experience within a public school setting.

202

Total Students

22.0

Full-Time Teachers

9.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for The Discovery School
Demographic	Student Count
White	148
Hispanic	16
Black	7
Asian	4
Two or More	27

White
148 (73.3%)
Two or More
27 (13.4%)
Hispanic
16 (7.9%)
Black
7 (3.5%)
Asian
4 (2.0%)

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:	No
District:	Dickson County
Phone:	(615)441-4163
Website:	http://tds.dicksoncountyschools.org/
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	202
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	22.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	9.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the 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

Kindergarten 32

Grade 1 36

Grade 2 35

Grade 3 30

Grade 4 33

Grade 5 36