Summary:
West Carroll Special School District, located in Atwood, TN, serves one high school, West Carroll Junior/Senior High School, covering grades 7 through 12 with a total enrollment of 302 students. This small combined junior/senior high school stands out for its exceptional student retention: the graduation rate is 97.9% compared to the state average of 90.5%, the dropout rate is just 2.1% versus 6.7% statewide, and chronic absenteeism is 12.8% versus 18.3%. The school also posts strong results in 7th-grade Social Studies (66% proficient vs. 56% statewide), 7th-grade ELA (38.3% vs. 35.9%), and English II (56.3% vs. 58.1%). For parents, this suggests a school that successfully keeps students engaged and on track to graduate, with particular bright spots in middle-level humanities and 10th-grade English.
However, the academic picture is sharply mixed. West Carroll Junior/Senior High School ranks 300 out of 400 Tennessee high schools (25th percentile) and holds a 1-star rating, down from 2 stars in prior years. Most core subjects fall well below state proficiency: Algebra I is at only 11.5% (state: 32.3%), English I at 15.4% (state: 37.3%), Geometry at 20.4% (state: 42.3%), and Biology I at 28.9% (state: 49.8%). A notable 8th-grade dip appears across the board—ELA proficiency plunges to 18.2% (state: 32.3%), and Social Studies to 27.3% (state: 47.6%). While 7th graders are near or above state averages in several subjects, 8th graders struggle significantly, suggesting a possible transition challenge within the same building.
Year-over-year trends show real gains: overall ELA proficiency improved from 13.1% to 27.5%, English II rose by 12.8 points, and math and science each improved by 6.1 points. But Biology I dropped a dramatic 22.2 points, and English I declined further. The district spends $15,563 per student, yet achievement remains below state averages. The central takeaway for parents: this school excels at graduating students and keeping them in class, but faces critical academic challenges in early high school math, 8th-grade literacy, and several tested subjects—while showing promising momentum in ELA and a strong English II result.
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