Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper

Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper is a public magnet school serving 741 students in grades 6–12 in downtown Chattanooga, TN, as part of Hamilton County Schools. While the district itself earns just 2 stars, CSAS Upper has maintained a 4-star rating for nearly a decade, ranking 64th out of 400 high schools statewide (84th percentile) in 2025–2026. The school's combined middle and high school structure provides families a continuous academic pathway from 6th through 12th grade in one familiar setting.

CSAS Upper's academic performance far outstrips district and state averages. Mathematics proficiency sits at 55.9% and English Language Arts at 54.9%, compared to 40.0% and 38.3% for the district. End-of-course exams are even more striking: English II scores reach 87.4%, Algebra II 68.5%, and Biology I 63.9%—well above state benchmarks. The school's English II results are nearly identical to STEM School Chattanooga's 87.3% and drastically higher than Brainerd High School's 22% proficiency rate. Graduation metrics are equally impressive, with a 99% graduation rate, just 1.0% dropout rate, and chronic absenteeism of only 9.1%—a fraction of Red Bank High School's 27.4%.

Remarkably, CSAS Upper achieves these outcomes while spending a moderate $16,140 per student—less than several lower-performing nearby schools, including The Howard School at $19,360 and Brainerd at $18,581. The school also delivers strong results across student groups: male students rank in the 83rd percentile statewide, African American students earned a 4-star rating (82nd percentile), and students from low-income families reached the 81st percentile. While Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts slightly edges CSAS Upper on some measures, CSAS Upper offers a compelling combination of strong academics, excellent attendance, and efficient resource use—making it one of the best non-specialized 6–12 options in Chattanooga.