Summary:
Copperhill, Tennessee, is served by two schools—Copper Basin Elementary School (grades PK–6, 321 students) and Copper Basin High School (grades 7–12, 231 students)—both part of the Polk County Schools district, which ranks 125th out of 141 Tennessee districts. Despite sharing the same district and community, these two schools paint very different pictures of academic performance.
Copper Basin High School is the clear standout. It ranks in the 72nd percentile statewide with a 4-star rating, and its 93.9% graduation rate tops both the district (85.1%) and state (90.5%). The high school shines in humanities—66.7% proficiency in U.S. History versus 42.4% statewide, and 64.7% in English II—but math is a major concern, with only 16.4% proficient overall compared to 43.0% statewide. By contrast, Copper Basin Elementary is struggling. It ranks in the 16th percentile with a 1-star rating, and its ranking has fallen sharply from the 43rd percentile three years ago. Social studies is a particular weakness at just 15.6% proficiency versus the 51.4% state average, though 4th grade math (61.5%) stands out as a bright spot.
Both schools share a serious chronic absenteeism problem—roughly 24% of students are chronically absent, well above the state average of 18.3%. Spending also differs notably, with the high school investing $16,864 per student compared to $12,575 at the elementary school. While the high school's performance has slipped modestly in recent years, it remains a relative success story in a low-ranked district. The elementary school's steep decline, especially in upper-grade math and social studies, is the most pressing concern for Copperhill families. If the district can tackle absenteeism and reverse the elementary school's trajectory, the community can build on the high school's demonstrated strengths.
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