Rhea County Schools

Rhea County Schools serves approximately 3,890 students across 7 schools in Rhea County, Tennessee, including 4 elementary schools (PK/K–5), 2 middle schools (6–8), and 1 high school (9–12). The district is ranked 35th out of 141 Tennessee districts and holds a 4-star rating, placing it in the 75th percentile statewide. Students in the district perform above Tennessee state averages in every core subject, including math (53.3% proficient vs. 43.0% statewide), ELA (43.2% vs. 40.6%), science (50.7% vs. 46.9%), and social studies (54.3% vs. 51.4%). However, outcomes vary widely across schools, creating a mixed picture for parents to navigate.

Spring City Middle School is the district's highest-ranked school at 91st of 594 middle schools (85th percentile, 4 stars), with exceptional social studies proficiency of 71.5% and 8th-grade social studies at 76.8%. Spring City Elementary School is the top elementary school at 171st of 1019 (83rd percentile, 4 stars), with standout 4th-grade math (73.9%) and science (63.0%). Frazier Elementary School also earns 4 stars at 256th of 1019, featuring exceptional 3rd-grade math (78.6%) and low chronic absenteeism of 9.3%. Notably, both Spring City schools anchor a strong feeder pattern in the Spring City attendance zone. Rhea Middle School (62nd percentile, 3 stars) and Rhea Central Elementary School (51st percentile, 3 stars) sit near the middle of the district, while Graysville Elementary School ranks lowest at 563rd of 1019 (45th percentile, 2 stars), despite spending the most per pupil at $16,203.

Families should note that the district's main vulnerabilities are at Rhea County High School, the only high school, which has a graduation rate of 86.4% (below Tennessee's 90.5% average) and a dropout rate of 8.1%. Its overall ranking slipped from 95th to 137th of 400, and English I proficiency dropped sharply from 42.0% to 32.8%. Chronic absenteeism is lowest at Rhea Central Elementary (9.1%) and Frazier (9.3%), but highest at Spring City Middle (23.1%) — yet that school still achieves top academic results. The district's biggest opportunity is to replicate the successful strategies used in Spring City schools and Frazier Elementary, especially in science, social studies, and early-grade math, and apply them to Rhea Middle, Rhea Central, and Graysville Elementary.