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Sullivan East High School

Q: Is Sullivan East High School a good school?

Sullivan East High School ranks 266 th of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

266^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 389 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 32% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Sullivan East High School is a public high school located in Bluff City, Tennessee, serving 827 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Sullivan County School District, which is ranked 66 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Sullivan East High School has maintained a graduation rate on par with nearby schools, it has consistently underperformed compared to the Sullivan County and Tennessee state averages on standardized tests like TNReady. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates were significantly lower than the county and state in subjects like Algebra I, Algebra II, and Biology I. Additionally, the school has struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 18.9% to 25.9% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

When compared to other high schools in the area, such as West Ridge High School, Sullivan East High School generally underperforms on academic measures. The school's statewide ranking has also declined over the years, from 154 out of 342 Tennessee high schools in 2018-2019 to 266 out of 389 schools in 2024-2025. While the school's per-student spending is on par with nearby schools, the data suggests that the resources may not be effectively utilized to support student learning and achievement, particularly for certain student subgroups that have shown disparities in performance.

816

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,237

Per pupil spending ?

55.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4180 Weaver PIKE
Bluff City, TN 37618

(423) 354-1900

District: Sullivan County

Feeder schools for Sullivan East High School:

Elementary:	Bluff City Elementary
	Emmett Elementary
	Mary Hughes School
Middle:	Sullivan East Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.0%

Hispanic:

5.0%

Two or more races:

1.3%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Sullivan East High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 28th percentile in 2015 → 32nd in 2025

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Tennessee average (90%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (29% vs 40% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (26% vs 18% Tennessee)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school29%

District avg37%

Tennessee avg40%

266^th of 389

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 32%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From bottom 28% (2015) to bottom 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2High 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	32.5	266 of 389	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.4	262 of 392	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.1	301 of 384	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.1	235 of 358	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.7	247 of 347	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.7	154 of 342	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.1	154 of 341	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	26.9	214 of 273	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	45.0	189 of 351	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	43.9	217 of 300	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	31.9	246 of 296	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	38.2	231 of 285	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	48.9	173 of 269	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.0	200 of 273	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	56.0	136 of 267	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	26.3	281 of 365	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.1	264 of 365	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.8	309 of 366	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.7	257 of 350	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.8	234 of 340	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.4	140 of 337	58.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	19.0	193 of 213	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	75.0	29 of 209	86.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	26.7	257 of 324	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.1	240 of 337	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.6	261 of 330	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	52.5	116 of 322	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.9	182 of 317	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.8	105 of 302	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.3	139 of 308	54.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	35.6	234 of 368	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.0	239 of 366	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.5	275 of 359	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.2	201 of 349	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.6	253 of 332	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.1	160 of 329	51.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	23.7	179 of 198	9.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.0	114 of 183	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	24.4	143 of 159	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	22.0	274 of 323	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.4	276 of 326	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.5	299 of 325	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	24.5	256 of 312	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.9	262 of 306	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.2	181 of 301	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.4	184 of 307	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)36th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)23rd percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)21st percentile-11 vs school

White (2025)15th percentile-16 vs school

Special Education (2025)10th percentile-22 vs school

Hispanic (2025)9th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

English II45%-9 vs state

Biology I31%-15 vs state

English I30%-9 vs state

US History29%-10 vs state

Geometry26%-10 vs state

Algebra I21%-8 vs state

Algebra II19%-16 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Saturday, February 3, 2024

Sullivan East works diligently to provide students with support and opportunities. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Great opportunities for my children. Strong community support. Close Quote

Schools Near Sullivan East High School

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 Algebra I (2025)			TNReady Algebra II (2025)				TNReady Biology I (2025)				TNReady US History (2025)				TNReady English I (2025)		TNReady English II (2025)			TNReady Geometry (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 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	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 Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 9th Grade	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry 12th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	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
Sullivan East High School	Public	9-12	4180 Weaver PIKE	Bluff City	37618	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1900	827	60	13.7		770 (93.1%)	5 (0.6%)	34 (4.1%)	7 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.3%)	32.5	266^th of 389 public high schools	31.6%		33.4	262^nd of 392 public high schools	33.2%	4									22.5		21.2	18.8	13.3		18.6	46.0	14.1		30.7		27.7		28.7	31.1	30.5		44.6	44.9		26.7	26.0		26.3									$14,237	$1,163	$12,345
Tennessee High School	Public	9-12	1112 Edgemont Avenue	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol	No	No	No	No	(423) 652-9494	1,179	73	16.2		1,025 (86.9%)	27 (2.3%)	57 (4.8%)	15 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (4.7%)	72.6	66^th of 389 public high schools	83.0%		75.1	54^th of 392 public high schools	86.2%	12									32.6	9.1	30.8		42.1	9.1	46.5	90.5	36.2	25.0	47.8		56.4		55.8	39.0	38.0		61.1	60.0		49.4			49.7									$13,543	$438	$12,444
Tennessee Online Public School	Public, Virtual	6-12	615 MLK Jr. BLVD	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol	No	No	Yes	No	(423) 652-9209	243	15	15.7		204 (84.0%)	12 (4.9%)	12 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.2%)	64.6	99^th of 389 public high schools	74.6%		70.8	69^th of 392 public high schools	82.4%	30	50.0	45.0	16.7	36.0	66.7	35.0	40.0	44.2	8.6		9.8		26.5		25.5		50.0		57.1		45.9	16.7	39.2	61.8	62.9		74.5	74.0		41.9			38.1	66.7	55.0	65.0	61.5	66.7	60.0	60.0	61.5	$8,787	$301	$8,485
Unaka High School	Public	9-12	119 Robinson LN	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 474-4100	309	23	13.3		283 (91.6%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (6.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	34.9	248^th of 389 public high schools	36.2%		29.6	274^th of 392 public high schools	30.1%	26									22.6		21.5		18.0		17.0	20.0	37.9	31.3	31.3					27.4	27.4		47.7	47.8		13.1			11.6									$14,446	$1,474	$12,294
Carter County Alternative School	Public	5-12	120 Unaka DR	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County	No	No	No	No	(423) 547-4050	61	3	24.4		57 (93.4%)	2 (3.3%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)								(n/a)
Elizabethton High School	Public	9-12	907 Jason Witten Way	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Elizabethton	No	No	No	No	(423) 547-8015	879	66	13.3		790 (89.9%)	17 (1.9%)	32 (3.6%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (3.8%)	71.1	74^th of 389 public high schools	81.0%		67.6	82^nd of 392 public high schools	79.1%	8									47.8		44.9	94.7	30.4		37.0	50.2	16.7		48.3		41.3		41.7	54.9	54.7		70.5	70.2	87.5	40.4			44.0									$13,522	$464	$12,694
West Ridge High School	Public	9-12	380 Lynn RD	Blountville	37617	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1450	1,636	101	16.1		1,530 (93.5%)	12 (0.7%)	51 (3.1%)	6 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (2.1%)	50.7	174^th of 389 public high schools	55.3%		50.5	171^st of 392 public high schools	56.4%	3									30.2		29.7	34.4	10.4		39.7	50.2	30.6		45.4		32.9		34.3	37.8	37.4		56.8	56.6		45.3	35.8	5.9	36.5									$12,582	$779	$11,282
Happy Valley High School	Public	9-12	121 Warpath LN	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 547-4094	450	26	17.2		397 (88.2%)	8 (1.8%)	27 (6.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.8%)	49.9	177^th of 389 public high schools	54.5%		40.6	219^th of 392 public high schools	44.1%	42									13.3		12.9	64.5			29.3	61.5	40.0		45.0					29.5	28.8	42.0	41.8	42.2		31.9	13.3		29.4									$11,892	$991	$10,259
Science Hill High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	1509 John Exum PKWY	Johnson City	37604	Washington County	Johnson City	No	Yes	No	No	(423) 232-2190	2,423	158	15.3		1,612 (66.5%)	207 (8.5%)	348 (14.4%)	74 (3.1%)	3 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	178 (7.3%)	87.8	27^th of 389 public high schools	93.1%		83.2	33^rd of 392 public high schools	91.6%	6									56.0	12.9	52.8	94.4	51.9		57.8	73.1	37.2		69.9	66.7	59.3	90.0	60.6	58.6	58.5		74.9	74.3		52.1	13.8		58.9									$13,510	$388	$12,750
Hampton High School	Public	9-12	139 Keenburg RD	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 725-5200	395	32	12.5		376 (95.2%)	3 (0.8%)	9 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	36.4	239^th of 389 public high schools	38.6%		33.8	258^th of 392 public high schools	34.2%	19									27.6		27.6	60.0			14.5	38.9	24.0		26.4					21.4	20.7		50.7	50.7		16.0			15.4									$13,382	$1,189	$11,281

Frequently Asked Questions about Sullivan East High School

What district is Sullivan East High School in?

Sullivan County

What is the racial makeup of Sullivan East High School?

Students at Sullivan East High School are 93% White, 5% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

Is Sullivan East High School a good school?

Sullivan East High School ranks 266^th of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Sullivan East High School?

Sullivan East High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bluff City Elementary
Elementary : Emmett Elementary
Elementary : Mary Hughes School
Middle : Sullivan East Middle School

How many students attend Sullivan East High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 816 students attended Sullivan East High School.

Rate Sullivan East High School!

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Schools in Bluff City, TN

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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.