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Unaka High School

Q: Is Unaka High School a good school?

Unaka High School ranks 210 th of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Unaka High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 284 students attended Unaka High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Unaka High School?

Students at Unaka High School are 91% White, 7% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

Q: What schools feed into Unaka High School?

Unaka High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Central Elementary School Elementary : Cloudland Elementary School Elementary : Hampton Elementary School Elementary : Happy Valley Elementary School Elementary : Hunter Elementary School Elementary : Unaka Elementary School Elementary : Valley Forge Elementary School Middle : Happy Valley Middle School

Public Grades 9-12

210^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 48% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Unaka High School is a small public high school in Elizabethton, TN, serving 284 students in grades 9–12 as part of the Carter County Schools district. The school has earned a 2-star rating in recent years, with its graduation rate reaching 94.7% in 2024–25—above both the district (94.1%) and state (90.5%)—representing a remarkable recovery from just 65.5% in 2022–23. The dropout rate has similarly collapsed from 16.7% to 3.2% over that same period. Despite this momentum, the school's overall state ranking places it in the middle-to-lower tier of Tennessee high schools, a significant decline from its 4-star, 80th-percentile performance in 2018–19.

Academically, Unaka is best described as a tale of two subjects. In 2025–26, 44.4% of students scored proficient in English I—well above the state average of 37.3% and the highest among all four Carter County high schools, including Cloudland High School (35.9%), Happy Valley High School (33.3%), and Hampton High School (29.1%). On the other hand, Algebra II proficiency sits at just 7.4%, far below the district average of 21.6% and the state average of 37.3%. Nearby schools fare dramatically better in Algebra II, with Elizabethton High School at 42.9% and Science Hill High School at 69.9%. Unaka does outperform its district in Algebra I and Geometry, suggesting strong support for core 9th- and 10th-grade coursework but a significant gap in advanced math pathways.

Chronic absenteeism has been a persistent challenge, running roughly 8–10 percentage points above the state average in recent years. On a more encouraging note, Unaka ranks exceptionally well in serving low-income students—73rd out of 308 high schools (76th percentile, 4 stars) in 2025–26—a notable strength given the district's overall 1-star rating. The school also spends generously per student at $14,446, more than several neighboring schools, though academic outcomes don't yet fully reflect that investment. With the dramatic graduation-rate turnaround as evidence, Unaka has demonstrated it can improve quickly when the right supports are in place, giving parents reason for cautious optimism about the school's trajectory.

284

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,446

Per pupil spending ?

69.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

119 Robinson Lane
Elizabethton, TN 37643

(423) 474-4100

District: Carter County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.8%

Hispanic:

7.4%

Two or more races:

1.4%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Unaka High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 36th percentile in 2016 → 48th in 2026

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Tennessee average (90%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (34% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Algebra II scores 30 pts below the Tennessee average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg35%

Tennessee avg43%

210^th of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 48%▲ up 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to bottom 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4High Schools in the Carter County Schools

108^th of 141Carter County Schools among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	45.8	210 of 400	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.9	248 of 389	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.6	274 of 392	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.6	200 of 384	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.0	229 of 358	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.7	204 of 347	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.2	80 of 342	76.6%	★★★★☆
2018	45.3	164 of 341	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	48.0	133 of 273	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	39.8	225 of 351	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	61.1	128 of 300	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	54.0	130 of 296	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	36.2	240 of 285	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	14.3	252 of 269	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	33.1	219 of 273	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	40.3	200 of 267	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	32.5	256 of 365	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.6	293 of 365	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.7	200 of 366	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.6	237 of 350	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.9	160 of 340	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.2	72 of 337	78.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	62.2	73 of 308	76.3%	★★★★☆
2025	43.9	166 of 324	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.8	141 of 337	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.7	85 of 330	74.2%	★★★★☆
2022	42.1	166 of 322	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	59.9	68 of 317	78.5%	★★★★☆
2019	77.5	20 of 302	93.4%	★★★★★
2018	46.5	130 of 308	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	37.6	221 of 368	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.6	243 of 366	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	178 of 359	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.8	180 of 349	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.9	194 of 332	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.5	100 of 329	69.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2021	58.7	24 of 125	80.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	31.7	243 of 330	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.9	255 of 323	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.1	281 of 326	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.4	223 of 325	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.2	258 of 312	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.7	238 of 306	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	53.7	98 of 301	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.2	200 of 307	34.9%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2021)81st percentile+40 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)76th percentile+29 vs school

Male (2025)40th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)30th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)26th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English II46%-12 vs state

English I44%+7 vs state

Geometry36%-6 vs state

Biology I35%-15 vs state

Algebra I33%~ state avg

Algebra II7%-30 vs state

★

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Schools Near Unaka High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)				TNReady English Language Arts (2026)				TNReady Algebra I (2026)						TNReady Algebra II (2026)					TNReady Biology I (2026)					TNReady Integrated Math II (2026)		TNReady US History (2026)				TNReady English I (2026)				TNReady English II (2026)					TNReady Geometry (2026)					TNReady Science (2026)				TNReady Social Studies (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2020)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I 12th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I 10th Grade	TNReady English I 11th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 9th Grade	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II 11th Grade	TNReady English II 12th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry 12th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Unaka High School	Public	9-12	119 Robinson Lane	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 474-4100	309	23	13.3	69.6%	283 (91.6%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (6.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	45.8	210^th of 400 public high schools	47.5%		34.9	248^th of 389 public high schools	36.2%	38										33.9				33.3			7.7		7.4	42.9	43.2	17.4		35.1							44.4			44.4		46.0			46.0		34.8			35.8									$14,446	$1,474	$12,294
Carter County Alternative School	Public	5-12	120 Unaka Drive	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 547-4050	61	3	24.4		57 (93.4%)	2 (3.3%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)								(n/a)
Elizabethton High School	Public	9-12	907 Jason Witten Way	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Elizabethton City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 547-8015	879	66	13.3	33.0%	790 (89.9%)	17 (1.9%)	32 (3.6%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (3.8%)	78.5	53^rd of 400 public high schools	86.8%		71.1	74^th of 389 public high schools	81.0%	21										53.0				51.1		76.9	38.0		42.9	65.8				63.3				52.2		51.7	57.6			57.3		67.6			66.4	≥ 95%	49.4	< 5%		50.7									$13,522	$464	$12,694
Hampton High School	Public	9-12	139 Keenburg Road	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 725-5200	395	32	12.5	66.0%	376 (95.2%)	3 (0.8%)	9 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	53.5	170^th of 400 public high schools	57.5%		36.4	239^th of 389 public high schools	38.6%	69										38.8				36.1		51.6	6.5		23.8	67.7	49.1			56.0							29.7			29.1		62.0			61.0		34.2			32.5									$13,382	$1,189	$11,281
Happy Valley High School	Public	9-12	121 Warpath Lane	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 547-4094	450	26	17.2	62.7%	397 (88.2%)	8 (1.8%)	27 (6.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.8%)	52.2	178^th of 400 public high schools	55.5%		49.9	177^th of 389 public high schools	54.5%	1										19.4	< 5%			17.5		58.6	20.0		32.6	92.0	41.1	56.3		56.7							35.2			33.3	55.8	46.2			53.8		30.6			30.3									$11,892	$991	$10,259
Sullivan East High School	Public	9-12	4180 Weaver Pike	Bluff City	37618	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1900	827	60	13.7	55.6%	770 (93.1%)	5 (0.6%)	34 (4.1%)	7 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.3%)	36.1	260^th of 400 public high schools	35.0%		32.5	266^th of 389 public high schools	31.6%	6										16.3				15.6		24.4	5.9		23.4	49.1	11.5			31.6				34.0		33.8	33.0			32.4		55.9			55.9		30.8	31.5		32.0									$14,237	$1,163	$12,345
Science Hill High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	1509 John Exum Parkway	Johnson City	37604	Washington County	Johnson City Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(423) 232-2190	2,423	158	15.3	38.5%	1,612 (66.5%)	207 (8.5%)	348 (14.4%)	74 (3.1%)	3 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	178 (7.3%)	87.1	26^th of 400 public high schools	93.5%		87.8	27^th of 389 public high schools	93.1%	1										53.1	5.9			49.7	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	60.3	10.5	69.9	74.9	40.0			71.1				63.7	46.2	63.7	60.3			60.6		79.0			78.5	≥ 95%	61.8	16.7		67.4									$13,510	$388	$12,750
Tennessee High School	Public	9-12	1112 Edgemont Avenue	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 652-9494	1,179	73	16.2	38.5%	1,025 (86.9%)	27 (2.3%)	57 (4.8%)	15 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (4.7%)	75.4	61^st of 400 public high schools	84.8%		72.6	66^th of 389 public high schools	83.0%	5										37.3	6.7			35.6		≥ 95%	45.0	8.3	46.9	≥ 95%	43.4	47.1		57.1				61.1		61.2	51.3			50.4		60.4			59.6	92.3	50.4	5.6		51.4									$13,543	$438	$12,444
Cloudland High School	Public	7-12	476 Cloudland Drive	Roan Mountain	37687	Carter County	Carter County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 772-5300	245	19	12.8	58.6%	236 (96.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	45.5	212^th of 400 public high schools	47.0%		58.4	135^th of 389 public high schools	65.3%	77		36.4	16.0	27.6		39.4	34.4	36.9		10.0				21.6		80.0	< 5%		27.3	63.6	17.6			46.3							35.9			35.9		65.6			65.6		< 5%			28.1		51.5	50.0	50.8		78.8	75.0	76.9	$15,313	$1,205	$13,168
Tennessee Online Public School	Public, Virtual	6-12	615 MLK Jr. Boulevard	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol City Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(423) 652-9209	243	15	15.7		204 (84.0%)	12 (4.9%)	12 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.2%)	60.3	122^nd of 400 public high schools	69.5%		64.6	99^th of 389 public high schools	74.6%	23	16.7	47.6	10.7	24.6	41.7	55.0	17.9	35.0		19.0				19.0			22.9		25.0		58.6			61.5				48.3		46.2	56.5			56.5		78.0			78.6		18.2			24.4	50.0	50.0	42.9	46.7	25.0	50.0	42.9	41.7	$8,787	$301	$8,485

Frequently Asked Questions about Unaka High School

What district is Unaka High School in?

Carter County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Unaka High School?

Students at Unaka High School are 91% White, 7% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Unaka High School?

Unaka High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Central Elementary School
Elementary : Cloudland Elementary School
Elementary : Hampton Elementary School
Elementary : Happy Valley Elementary School
Elementary : Hunter Elementary School
Elementary : Unaka Elementary School
Elementary : Valley Forge Elementary School
Middle : Happy Valley Middle School

Is Unaka High School a good school?

Unaka High School ranks 210^th of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Unaka High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 284 students attended Unaka High School.

Rate Unaka High School!

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TNTennessee High School Rankings

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Schools in Elizabethton, TN

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.