Summary:
Chilhowee Middle School is the only middle school in Polk County Schools, serving grades 6 through 8 with 293 students in Benton, Tennessee. Chilhowee is a standout within its district, outperforming Polk County Schools averages in every tested subject: math, English language arts, science, and social studies. The school has also made a significant leap in state rankings, moving from 366th place (37th percentile) in 2024–2025 to 272nd place (54th percentile) in 2025–2026, earning a 3-star rating and placing it in the top half of Tennessee middle schools.
Across the board, Chilhowee students showed strong year-over-year growth. Math proficiency jumped from 27.1% to 36.7%, science rose from 33.7% to 44.1%, social studies climbed from 40.0% to 48.9%, and ELA improved from 31.4% to 35.8%. While the school still trails state averages slightly—by 2.5 to 6.3 points depending on the subject—it is clearly closing the gap. The 7th grade class is particularly impressive: 7th graders scored 43.0% in ELA and 66.3% in social studies, both well above state and district averages. Per-student spending is $12,935 for 2024–2025.
Not everything is rosy. Chilhowee's chronic absenteeism rate of 24.8% is higher than both the district (21.1%) and the state (18.3%), meaning nearly one in four students is chronically absent. The 8th grade cohort is also a concern, especially in ELA (25.5% proficiency) and social studies (34.0% proficiency), both well below state averages. Given the district's overall 1-star rating and 125th-place state rank, Chilhowee stands out as a bright spot—but attendance and 8th-grade performance are key areas to watch as the school continues its upward trajectory.
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