Summary:
Bulls Gap, Tennessee, is served by two elementary schools within the Hawkins County Schools district: Bulls Gap School, a larger PK-8 school with 357 students, and St Clair Elementary School, a smaller K-5 school with 166 students. The district itself currently ranks 98th out of 141 districts in Tennessee, placing it in the 30th percentile with a 2-star rating. This small-town setting offers families two distinct school options within the same district, each with its own strengths and challenges.
For parents seeking the strongest overall academics, St Clair Elementary School is the clear standout. It ranks in the 68th percentile statewide (331st of 1,019 schools) and earns 3 stars, outperforming the state average in math (46.6% vs. 43.0%), ELA (50.0% vs. 40.6%), and science (54.5% vs. 46.9%). Its 5th grade math (56% proficient) and 4th grade ELA (56.3%) are particular bright spots. Meanwhile, Bulls Gap School is the area's most improved school. Its ranking has climbed steadily from the 30th to the 50th percentile over three years, with dramatic one-year gains across every subject, including a 17.6-point jump in social studies and a 12.6-point jump in ELA. While still below state averages in most subjects, its trajectory is strongly positive.
Chronic absenteeism is a key dividing line between the two schools. Bulls Gap School has a 23.2% chronic absenteeism rate, well above the state average of 18.3%, while St Clair Elementary School sits below both district and state levels at 16.0%. St Clair also spends more per student ($16,975 vs. $13,637). Bulls Gap School shows notable grade-level swings, with excellent 4th grade math (58.8% proficient) but very low 3rd grade math (24.0%) and 6th grade math (22.7%), suggesting areas for targeted intervention. Both schools outperform their district in most categories, meaning other schools in Hawkins County may be dragging down its overall ranking.
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