Summary:
Altamont, Tennessee is served by a single school, North Elementary School, a PK-8 institution within Grundy County Schools that enrolls 385 students and invests $13,149 per student. This rural community relies on North Elementary as both its elementary and middle school, and the school posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 14.1%, which is better than the district's 16.8% and the state's 18.3%.
Academically, North Elementary beats its district in every subject but only matches or lags the state in most areas. Science is the standout subject, with 54.8% proficiency versus 46.9% statewide, and 6th grade science reaches an impressive 71.4%. Fifth grade math is another bright spot at 65.9%, well above the state's 47.4%. However, English Language Arts is a persistent challenge, with the best grade (6th) only reaching 42.9%, and 7th and 8th grade ELA sit near 28-29%. Eighth grade appears to be a weak transition year, with social studies at 29.4% versus the state's 47.6%. The most concerning trend is math, which fell from 51.5% to 42.9% in a single year, pulling the school below the state average.
Over the past three years, North Elementary has declined in state ranking from the 74th percentile to the 57th percentile, and its star rating dropped from 4 to 3. For parents, this means the school is a strong local performer—especially in science and early math—but needs targeted support in ELA and upper-grade subjects. With excellent attendance and high per-student spending, the school has a solid foundation, though reversing the downward ranking trend will require addressing the math slump and eighth grade weaknesses.
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