Grainger County Schools

Grainger County Schools is a Tennessee district serving roughly 2,965 students across 8 schools—including elementary, middle, high, and alternative campuses—and currently ranks 89 out of 141 districts statewide with a 2-star rating. For parents, the standout elementary school is Joppa Elementary School, which earns 4 stars and outperforms the state in math, ELA, and science, all while spending the least per student in the district. Rutledge Elementary School is also solidly above the district norm in ELA and math. On the other hand, Bean Station Elementary School has slipped from the 60th to the 43rd percentile, with 3rd-grade math proficiency at just 11.9% and chronic absenteeism at 20.1%, making it a school to watch.

The middle and high school picture is mixed but has bright spots. Rutledge Middle School has improved dramatically, jumping from the 41st to the 70th percentile over two years and now posting excellent social studies proficiency (64% vs. 51.4% statewide). Grainger High School is the traditional anchor with a 95.9% graduation rate and low dropout rate, but its math scores lag far behind the state—Algebra I proficiency is 17.8% compared to 32.3% statewide. Washburn School, an alternative PK–12 campus, has the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism and beats Grainger High in U.S. History and Algebra II, though its ELA and Biology scores are weak. Grainger Academy serves only 6 students and spends $45,825 per student, but its outcomes are volatile and difficult to compare.

Two key takeaways stand out. First, spending does not predict performance—Joppa achieves the best results with the lowest per-student cost, while Rutledge Primary School spends $17,363 per student yet has the highest chronic absenteeism (23.8%). Second, math is a district-wide weakness, with every school except Joppa falling below state averages in at least one math subject. Chronic absenteeism also correlates with outcomes: the schools with the highest absenteeism—Rutledge Primary, Bean Station, and Grainger High—tend to struggle more academically. Overall, the district has clear pockets of excellence and promising trends, but targeted support in math and attendance could lift performance across all schools.