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Bluff City Elementary

Q: Is Bluff City Elementary a good school?

Bluff City Elementary ranks 627 th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

627^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,009 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 38% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Bluff City Elementary is a public elementary school in Bluff City, Tennessee, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 544 students. The school is part of the Sullivan County School District, which is ranked 66 out of 139 districts in the state.

Bluff City Elementary has consistently underperformed compared to the Sullivan County and Tennessee state averages in proficiency rates for TNReady Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Science assessments across all grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates were 40.8% in Mathematics, 33.8% in English Language Arts, and 36.6% in Science, while the Sullivan County averages were 41.6%, 37.5%, and 44.1%, respectively, and the Tennessee state averages were 42.2%, 38.9%, and 46.1%. The school's performance has declined over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 391 out of 853 Tennessee elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 627 out of 1009 in 2024-2025. Bluff City Elementary has also struggled to support the academic achievement of specific student subgroups, particularly female students, white students, and students with special needs.

In addition to academic performance, Bluff City Elementary faces challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 18.4% to 23.0% over the past few years, which are significantly higher than the state average. The school's spending per student has increased from $9,820 in 2020-2021 to $11,359 in 2023-2024, but it remains lower than the spending per student at nearby schools like Holston Elementary ($12,168) and Emmett Elementary ($13,397). Addressing these challenges will be crucial for Bluff City Elementary to improve the educational outcomes for its students.

504

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,452

Per pupil spending ?

66.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

282 Maple DR
Bluff City, TN 37618

(423) 354-1825

District: Sullivan County

Students who attend Bluff City Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Sullivan East Middle School
High:	Sullivan East High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.9%

Hispanic:

3.2%

Two or more races:

3.0%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Bluff City Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 24th percentile in 2017 → 38th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 38th (2025) from a 24th-percentile low (2017)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (37% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Sullivan County's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school37%

District avg41%

Tennessee avg42%

627^th of 1,009

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 38%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 10Elementary Schools in the Sullivan County

66^th of 139Sullivan County among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	38.2	627 of 1009	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.3	634 of 1018	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.1	704 of 1020	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.7	742 of 1000	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.1	720 of 983	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.7	613 of 985	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.9	684 of 997	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	32.9	488 of 646	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	44.8	547 of 855	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	53.2	391 of 853	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.4	400 of 846	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	51.9	434 of 820	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	35.3	594 of 818	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	58.5	346 of 809	57.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	28.0	748 of 986	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.9	564 of 990	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.8	666 of 989	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.6	700 of 975	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.0	784 of 945	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.6	655 of 926	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	47.6	438 of 843	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.1	606 of 853	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.3	500 of 865	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.5	643 of 858	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	47.4	389 of 823	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.9	599 of 821	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.0	498 of 877	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	48.3	495 of 984	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.5	667 of 991	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	680 of 987	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.7	741 of 980	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.0	528 of 941	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.8	507 of 916	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	19.1	583 of 618	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.3	567 of 582	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	27.3	422 of 528	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.1	289 of 447	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.6	254 of 395	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	24.0	695 of 840	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.9	686 of 847	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.9	765 of 852	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.2	776 of 844	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.4	767 of 844	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.1	641 of 812	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.3	740 of 841	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2025)50th percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)48th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)24th percentile-14 vs school

White (2025)17th percentile-21 vs school

Special Education (2025)6th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics41%~ state avg

Science37%-10 vs state

English Language Arts34%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bluff City Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)							TNReady English Language Arts (2025)							TNReady Science (2025)							TNReady Social Studies (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bluff City Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	282 Maple DR	Bluff City	37618	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1825	544	33	16.4		508 (93.4%)	3 (0.6%)	16 (2.9%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.6%)	38.2	627^th of 1009 public elementary schools	37.9%		38.3	634^th of 1018 public elementary schools	37.7%	7	47.7	42.5	32.2				40.8	33.0	41.4	27.3				33.8	42.0	37.9	29.9				36.6					$13,452	$857	$11,659
Avoca Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2440 Volunteer PKWY	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 652-9445	402	27	14.9		361 (89.8%)	3 (0.7%)	20 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.5%)	75.4	192^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	81.0%		77.8	168^th of 1018 public elementary schools	83.5%	24	59.1	47.8	53.3				53.3	53.0	47.8	50.0				50.3	71.2	63.2	75.0				69.6					$13,270	$963	$11,396
Mary Hughes School	Public	PK, KG-5	240 Austin Springs RD	Piney Flats	37686	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1835	352	24	14.9		325 (92.3%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	67.5	263^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	73.9%		61.2	335^th of 1018 public elementary schools	67.1%	72	56.6	50.0	60.8				56.1	54.7	47.6	31.4				44.5	67.9	54.5	47.1				56.8					$14,565	$927	$12,876
Haynesfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 Bluff City HWY	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol	No	No	No	No	(423) 652-9292	397	25	15.7		327 (82.4%)	7 (1.8%)	26 (6.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.8%)	85.9	116^th of 1009 public elementary schools	88.5%		76.5	180^th of 1018 public elementary schools	82.3%	64	66.7	55.2	69.1				64.1	56.1	56.9	56.7				56.5	74.2	69.0	76.5				73.4					$12,763	$565	$11,461
Holston Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2348 Hwy 75	Blountville	37617	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1550	625	38	16.4		595 (95.2%)	3 (0.5%)	9 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	13 (2.1%)	52	462^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	54.2%		53.9	424^th of 1018 public elementary schools	58.3%	38	34.4	42.7	50.0				42.4	49.5	44.8	31.6				41.9	51.0	48.4	43.9				47.8					$13,937	$1,576	$11,559
Anderson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	901 Ninth ST	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 652-9444	268	23	11.5		213 (79.5%)	8 (3.0%)	12 (4.5%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	31 (11.6%)	43.8	552^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	45.3%		55.2	408^th of 1018 public elementary schools	59.9%	144	28.6	51.5	41.2				39.7	14.3	54.5	43.1				36.5	28.6	48.5	45.1				40.5					$16,786	$1,576	$14,099
Hunter Elementary	Public	K-8	145 Hope ST	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 547-4074	519	39	13.4		462 (89.0%)	4 (0.8%)	38 (7.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.3%)	31.3	720^th of 1009 public elementary schools	28.6%		32.4	708^th of 1018 public elementary schools	30.5%	12	41.5	12.5	18.4	13.0	42.5	65.8	30.5	40.0	42.9	18.4	29.8	15.0	21.1	29.8	55.4	37.5	22.4	22.2	40.0	52.6	38.9	35.6	32.5	37.8	35.2	$12,895	$1,281	$10,869
West Side Elementary	Public	K-5	1310 Burgie ST	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Elizabethton	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 547-8030	362	21	16.9		324 (89.5%)	9 (2.5%)	12 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.4%)	93.6	59^th of 1009 public elementary schools	94.2%		89.6	89^th of 1018 public elementary schools	91.3%	30	64.7	64.5	77.9				69.2	73.5	64.5	75.0				71.2	82.4	82.3	77.9				80.8					$13,724	$759	$12,338
Emmett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	753 Emmett RD	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1865	309	24	12.8		296 (95.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	34.4	687^th of 1009 public elementary schools	31.9%		32.2	710^th of 1018 public elementary schools	30.3%	23	37.8	28.1	23.4				29.8	42.2	34.4	21.7				32.5	55.6	37.5	27.7				40.3					$15,170	$1,610	$12,440
Central Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	158 Central Heights RD	Blountville	37617	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1575	235	19	12.3		223 (94.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	71.8	225^th of 1009 public elementary schools	77.7%		63.4	304^th of 1018 public elementary schools	70.1%	79	53.3	68.6	57.4				59.8	50.0	70.6	48.9				55.9	41.4	57.1	46.8				48.6					$14,828	$972	$12,913

Frequently Asked Questions about Bluff City Elementary

Is Bluff City Elementary a good school?

Bluff City Elementary ranks 627^th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Bluff City Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 504 students attended Bluff City Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Bluff City Elementary?

Students at Bluff City Elementary are 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Bluff City Elementary in?

Sullivan County

What schools do graduates of Bluff City Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bluff City Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sullivan East Middle School
High : Sullivan East High School

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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.