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Williamson County Schools, Tennessee

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Williamson County Schools
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Franklin, Tennessee
District details
Superintendent:Jason Golden
# of school board members:12
Website:Link

Williamson County Schools is aschool district inTennessee.

Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...

Superintendent

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This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Pleasecontact us with any updates.

Jason Golden is the superintendent of Williamson County Schools. Golden began serving as interim superintendent in May 2019 and was appointed full superintendent in June 2019. Golden's previous career experience includes working in the district as its attorney, chief operating officer, and deputy superintendent.[1][2]

Past superintendents

  • Mike Looney was the superintendent of Williamson County Schools from 2009 to 2019.[3] Looney's previous career experience included working as the superintendent ofButler County Schools in Alabama, a teacher, and a U.S. Marine.[4]

School board

The Williamson County Schools school board consists of 12 members electedby district to four-year terms.[5]

Elections

See also:Williamson County Schools, Tennessee, elections

Members of the Williamson County Schools school board are elected to four-year terms. Six or seven seats are up for election on a staggered basis every even-numbered year in August.

Six seats on the on the board were up for general election onAugust 1, 2024. A primary was scheduled for March 5, 2024.


Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students.Click here to read an analysis of those elections.


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Public participation in board meetings

The Williamson County Schools school district did not publish this policy as of April 2025.

School board meetings

The following articles were produced byCitizen Portal using artificial intelligence to analyze public meetings. Citizen Portal publishes articles based on the availability of meeting broadcasts, so the number of articles provided may vary by district. Although these articles are not produced or edited by Ballotpedia, they are included here as a supplemental resource for readers.

School board meeting articles (click to collapse)


District map

Budget

The following statistics were published by theNational Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of theU.S. Department of Education.[6]

Revenue, 2021-2022
SOURCEAMOUNTAMOUNT PER STUDENTPERCENT
Federal:$33,322,000$794 6%
Local:$384,194,000$9,158 68%
State:$147,301,000$3,511 26%
Total:$564,817,000$13,463
Expenditures, 2021-2022
TYPEAMOUNTAMOUNT PER STUDENTPERCENT
Total Expenditures:$532,756,000$12,698
Total Current Expenditures:$449,332,000$10,710
Instructional Expenditures:$287,277,000$6,847 54%
Student and Staff Support:$48,702,000$1,160 9%
Administration:$49,120,000$1,170 9%
Operations, Food Service, Other:$64,233,000$1,531 12%
Total Capital Outlay:$56,452,000$1,345
Construction:$40,200,000$958
Total Non El-Sec Education & Other:$5,446,000$129
Interest on Debt:$21,526,000$513


Teacher salaries

The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.

YearMinimumMaximum
2024-2025[7]$50,100$85,636
2022-2023[8]$45,900$80,023
2020-2021[9]$40,150$73,190

Academic performance

Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by theU.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result,proficiency levels are not comparable between different states andyear-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[10]

The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:

School yearAll (%)Asian/Pacific Islander (%)Black (%)Hispanic (%)Native American (%)Two or More Races (%)White (%)
2020-20215875364355-5958
2018-20197185505860-6473
2017-20186782405455-5968
2016-20176983445165-6970
2015-20162125-296-915-19<5022
2014-20158290637180-8483
2013-20148089656975-7981
2012-201378906063>=8079
2011-20127586545660-7976
2010-20116681444660-7967

The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:

School yearAll (%)Asian/Pacific Islander (%)Black (%)Hispanic (%)Native American (%)Two or More Races (%)White (%)
2020-20215971374755-5960
2018-20196778465560-6468
2017-20186376425155-5965
2016-20176678445265-6967
2015-20164660-6425-2930-3440-5948
2014-20158287647075-7983
2013-20148488707185-8986
2012-201384896766>=8085
2011-201283866667>=8084
2010-201178856061>=8080

The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:

School yearAll (%)Asian/Pacific Islander (%)Black (%)Hispanic (%)Native American (%)Two or More Races (%)White (%)
2019-202096>=9590-94>=95>=8096
2018-201997>=95>=95>=95>=8097
2017-201896>=9590-94>=95>=8096
2016-201796>=9590-9490-94>=5096
2015-201695>=9585-8990-94>=8096
2014-201596>=9590-9485-89>=8096
2013-201494>=9585-8985-89>=8095
2012-201394>=9585-8980-84PS95
2011-20129290-9485-8980-84PS93
2010-20119280-8485-8980-84>=5093


Students

YearEnrollmentYear-to-year change (%)
2023-202441,909-0.6
2022-202342,1710.5
2021-202241,9545.1
2020-202139,817-3.9
2019-202041,3872.2
2018-201940,4752.8
2017-201839,3222.9
2016-201738,1713.4
2015-201636,8743.5
2014-201535,5783.5
2013-201434,3503.0
2012-201333,3121.0
2011-201232,9834.1
2010-201131,6163.0
2009-201030,6522.5
2008-200929,8984.5
2007-200828,5562.7
2006-200727,7977.2
2005-200625,7917.5
2004-200523,8447.9
2003-200421,9564.4
2002-200320,9883.5
2001-200220,2573.5
2000-200119,5457.1
1999-200018,1650.0
Racial Demographics, 2023-2024
RACEWilliamson County Schools (%)Tennessee K-12 STUDENTS (%)
American Indian/Alaska Native0.20.2
Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander8.22.1
Black3.320.5
Hispanic7.914.8
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander0.10.1
Two or More Races4.64.7
White75.857.7

Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere.


Staff

As of the 2023-2024 school year, Williamson County Schools had 2,717.50 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 15.42.

Teachers, 2023-2024 school year
TYPENUMBER OF TEACHERS
Prekindergarten:23.50
Kindergarten:141.83
Elementary:1,725.77
Secondary:826.40
Total:2,717.50

Williamson County Schools employed 5.00 district administrators and 135.17 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.

Administrators, 2023-2024 school year
TYPENUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS
District Administrators:5.00
District Administrative Support:171.00
School Administrators:135.17
School Administrative Support:205.17
Other staff, 2023-2024 school year
TYPENUMBER OF OTHER STAFF
Instructional Aides:1,007.00
Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors:70.50
Total Guidance Counselors:110.50
Elementary Guidance Counselors:0.00
Secondary Guidance Counselors:0.00
Librarians/Media Specialists:52.83
Library/Media Support:48.00
Student Support Services:220.26
Other Support Services:1,046.00


Schools

Williamson County Schools operates 52 schools. They are listed below in alphabetical order.
List of schools
SCHOOL NAMENUMBER OF STUDENTSGRADES
Allendale Elementary School600PK-5
Amanda H. North Elementary School531PK-5
Arrington Elementary School561PK-5
Bethesda Elementary545PK-5
Brentwood High School1,6479-12
Brentwood Middle School1,1266-8
Centennial High School1,3899-12
Chapman'S Retreat Elementary559PK-5
Clovercroft Elementary School680KG-5
College Grove Elementary400PK-5
Creekside Elementary School792KG-5
Crockett Elementary733PK-5
Edmondson Elementary651KG-5
Fairview Elementary513PK-5
Fairview High School7199-12
Fairview Middle School5196-8
Franklin High School1,7439-12
Fred J Page High School1,3569-12
Fred J Page Middle School1,3086-8
Grassland Elementary463KG-5
Grassland Middle School8316-8
Heritage Elementary570PK-5
Heritage Middle School8226-8
Hillsboro Elementary/ Middle School501PK-8
Hunters Bend Elementary371KG-5
Independence High School2,0979-12
Jordan Elementary School632PK-5
Kenrose Elementary701PK-5
Legacy Middle School5526-8
Lipscomb Elementary566PK-5
Longview Elementary School681PK-5
Mill Creek Elementary School702KG-5
Mill Creek Middle School9146-8
Nolensville Elementary888PK-5
Nolensville High School1,4869-12
Oak View Elem School534PK-5
Pearre Creek Elementary School671PK-5
Ravenwood High School1,9509-12
Renaissance High School1709-12
Scales Elementary712KG-5
Spring Station Middle School8356-8
Summit High School1,6489-12
Sunset Elementary School591PK-5
Sunset Middle School7086-8
Thompson'S Station Elementary School753KG-5
Thompson'S Station Middle School5666-8
Trinity Elementary765PK-5
Vanguard Virtual High School1239-12
Walnut Grove Elementary586PK-5
Westwood Elementary School559PK-5
Winstead Elementary School632PK-5
Woodland Middle School9576-8

Noteworthy events

2016: New district religion policy

In the summer of 2016, the Williamson County Board of Education started discussing updates to the district's religion policy in response to a new state law. Prior to the discussions, the district only had a religious holiday policy, but the board sought to amend that policy to ensure it met the new state requirements that religious themes be presented in a factual and objective manner.[11]

The state law also required the school board to seek public comment on its new religion policy. Additionally, the district was required to give parents access to the curriculum and major assignments in social studies, science, math, and English classes for grades six through 12.[11]

School board candidates weighed in on the issue in a candidate forum on June 2, 2016. Most of them were in favor of teaching religion in a historical context and at higher grade levels.

The state bill on religion policy was introduced in January 2016 in response to "statewide concerns about religious indoctrination in public schools," according toThe Tennesseean.[12] It was signed by the governor on March 29, 2016.[13]

2016: Testing suspended in wake of state terminating TNReady contract

After theTennessee Department of Education terminated the contract with the provider of the state's new TNReady test assessments on April 27, 2016, Williamson County Schools halted its assessments for all students.Education CommissionerCandice McQueen said the contract was terminated withNorth Carolina-based Measurement Inc. after it failed to deliver all of the testing materials.[14][15]

Education Commissioner Candice McQueen

McQueen called Measurement Inc.'s performance "deeply disappointing" after months of delivery delays and a failure to roll out the assessment online in February 2016. "We’ve exhausted every option in problem solving with this vendor to assist them in getting these tests delivered. Districts have exceeded their responsibility and obligation to wait for grade 3-8 materials, and we will not ask districts to continue waiting on a vendor that has repeatedly failed us," said McQueen.[16]

Measurement Inc. President Henry Scherich said the contract termination was a disappointment. "It has been a very difficult job, and we were within a couple days or so of having all the tests in the state," said Scherich.[15]

Scherich said that the company had been put in a "difficult, and even impossible, situation" after they were required to switch to a paper test in response to the failed online assessment, according toChalkbeat Tennessee. McQueen said the state's contract had included provisions for paper tests in the case of technical difficulties.[16] As of the termination, the state had paid $1.6 million toward the $108 million contract.[15]

The state decided to continue testing high school students, as those materials had been received, but it suspended the tests for younger students. School districts that received the needed materials for testing younger grades were allowed to choose between continuing the assessments or suspending them. The state also gave districts a one-year reprieve for all tests, which Williamson County Schools used to cancel tests for high schoolers as well as younger students.[14][16]

Due to the suspension, accountability measures related to test scores, such as teacher evaluations, were also delayed for one year.Tennessee Gov.Bill Haslam (R) said that despite the delay, the state was still moving forward.[16]

“The failure of the testing vendor to deliver the tests and meet its own obligations does not take away from the fact that Tennessee has created our own, higher standards, we have an improved assessment fully aligned with those standards, and we remain committed going forward to measuring student performance fairly and ensuring accountability for those results.[17]”
—Gov. Bill Haslam (R)[16]

Contact information

Williamson County Schools seal.png
Williamson County Schools
1320 W. Main Street
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: 615-472-4000


About school boards

Education legislation in Tennessee

Bills are monitored byBillTrack50 and sorted by action history.

See also

TennesseeSchool Board ElectionsNews and Analysis
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑The Tennessean, "Williamson school board names interim superintendent ahead of Looney's departure," May 6, 2019
  2. ↑The Tennessean, "Jason Golden takes the helm as Williamson County Schools superintendent," June 17, 2019
  3. ↑The Tennessean, "After tumultuous year, Mike Looney ready for 'new challenge' in Atlanta," May 16, 2019
  4. ↑Williamson County Schools, "Superintendent Bio," accessed April 17, 2014
  5. ↑Williamson County Schools, "Williamson County Board of Education Members," accessed April 17, 2014
  6. ↑National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
  7. ↑Williamson County Schools, "2024-2025 Teacher Salary Schedule," accessed April 25, 2025
  8. ↑Williamson County Schools, "2022-2023 Teacher Salary Schedule," accessed February 6, 2024
  9. ↑Williamson County Schools, "2020-2021 Teacher Salary Schedule," accessed May 4, 2021
  10. ↑U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
  11. ↑11.011.1The Tennessean, "Williamson school board to draft religion policy," June 16, 2016
  12. ↑The Tennessean, "Bill seeks to prevent religious indoctrination in schools," January 20, 2016
  13. ↑LegiScan, "Tennessee House Bill 1905," accessed May 4, 2021
  14. ↑14.014.1WATE.com, "Tennessee Department of Education terminates TNReady testing contract," April 27, 2016
  15. ↑15.015.115.2The Tennesseean, "Tennessee terminates contract with TNReady test company," April 27, 2016
  16. ↑16.016.116.216.316.4Chalkbeat Tennessee, "Tennessee fires TNReady testmaker, suspends tests for grades 3-8," April 27, 2016
  17. ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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