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Chilhowee Middle School

Q: Is Chilhowee Middle School a good school?

Chilhowee Middle School ranks 272 nd of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

272^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 594 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 54% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Chilhowee Middle School in Benton, TN, serves 293 students in grades 6–8 and is part of Polk County Schools, a small rural district rated among the lowest in Tennessee. Despite that challenging backdrop, Chilhowee Middle School ranks 272nd out of 594 Tennessee middle schools (54th percentile, 3-star rating) in 2025–2026, a significant jump from the prior year's 37th percentile. The school consistently outperforms its district across every tested subject — especially in science and social studies — and its overall ranking closely matches Athens City Middle School, which belongs to a much higher-rated district.

Looking at nearby schools, Chilhowee clearly beats Cleveland Middle School and Lake Forest Middle School in nearly every subject, while trailing Ocoee Middle School. Its science (44.1%) and social studies (48.9%) proficiency rates are the second-highest among the five-school peer group. The 7th grade is a standout, with social studies proficiency 10 points above the state average and ELA 7 points above. The 8th grade, however, shows a sharp drop-off: ELA proficiency is 6.8 points below the state, and social studies trails by 13.6 points. The school also spends more per student ($12,935) than all nearby schools, including Ocoee Middle, yet trails Ocoee academically — suggesting rural cost pressures may absorb some of that funding.

The biggest concern is rising chronic absenteeism. Chilhowee's rate has climbed from 13.5% in 2022–2023 to 24.8% in 2024–2025 — now well above the state average (18.3%) and above its own district (21.1%). Only Cleveland Middle has a higher rate among nearby schools. On a positive note, the school showed major improvement in serving low-income and special education students, ranking in the 60th and 51st percentiles respectively in 2025–2026. If Chilhowee can tackle attendance and lift its 8th-grade performance, it has a realistic path back to the top quartile of Tennessee middle schools.

293

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,935

Per pupil spending ?

69.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

215 Schoolhouse Hill Road
Benton, TN 37307

(423) 299-0086

District: Polk County Schools

Students who attend Chilhowee Middle School usually attend:

High:

Polk County High School

Feeder schools for Chilhowee Middle School:

Elementary:	Benton Elementary School
	South Polk Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.2%

Hispanic:

3.1%

African American:

1.0%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare Chilhowee Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 36th percentile in 2015 → 54th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Tennessee median (54th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg34%

Tennessee avg45%

272^nd of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 46%▲ up 21 pts since 2017

From bottom 33% (2017) to top 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

125^th of 141Polk 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	52.9	272 of 594	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.6	366 of 583	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.9	332 of 587	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.9	290 of 594	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.2	211 of 569	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.9	145 of 576	74.8%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	200 of 574	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	32.5	400 of 563	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	42.4	243 of 362	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	46.7	313 of 492	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	36.5	359 of 485	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	34.6	388 of 475	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	18.8	413 of 466	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	17.1	414 of 462	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	36.7	350 of 546	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.2	318 of 554	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.3	287 of 560	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.1	214 of 552	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.1	161 of 538	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	56.3	198 of 529	62.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	54.5	192 of 478	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.2	300 of 490	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.6	228 of 510	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.3	252 of 514	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.2	131 of 495	73.5%	★★★★☆
2021	66.7	91 of 483	81.2%	★★★★☆
2019	75.4	50 of 490	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	32.0	350 of 481	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	38.7	346 of 550	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.4	330 of 560	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.2	284 of 557	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.1	200 of 540	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.4	136 of 529	74.3%	★★★★☆
2019	53.6	203 of 523	61.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	40.8	171 of 349	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	23.8	274 of 332	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.4	222 of 299	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.5	248 of 288	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	248 of 260	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.0	197 of 238	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.3	267 of 279	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	40.2	296 of 494	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.2	384 of 492	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.5	355 of 504	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.7	320 of 503	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.8	255 of 500	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.2	190 of 496	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.6	234 of 484	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	22.7	412 of 481	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)60th percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2026)51st percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)40th percentile-14 vs school

Male (2025)37th percentile~ school

Female (2025)36th percentile~ school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies49%~ state avg

Science44%-3 vs state

Mathematics37%-6 vs state

English Language Arts36%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Chilhowee Middle 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 Integrated Math I (2026)		TNReady Integrated Math 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 (2016)	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 All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math I 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 8th 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
Chilhowee Middle School	Public	6-8	215 Schoolhouse Hill Road	Benton	37307	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 299-0086	292	21	13.9	69.2%	274 (93.8%)	3 (1.0%)	11 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	52.9	272^nd of 594 public middle schools	54.2%		38.6	366^th of 583 public middle schools	37.2%	94	33.3	39.5	37.2	36.7	39.6	43.0	25.5	35.8									43.3	46.5	42.6	44.1	47.8	66.3	34.0	48.9	$12,935	$560	$11,872
Lake Forest Middle School	Public	6-8	610 Kile Lake Road	Cleveland	37323	Bradley County	Bradley County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 478-8821	1,174	78	14.9	68.5%	965 (82.2%)	26 (2.2%)	133 (11.3%)	6 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	42 (3.6%)	36.7	394^th of 594 public middle schools	33.7%		41.1	339^th of 583 public middle schools	41.9%	55	33.4	29.4	36.7	33.2	34.0	29.2	22.4	28.3									37.3	31.0	27.2	31.7	47.2	45.3	33.7	41.8	$11,436	$662	$9,947
Ocoee Middle School	Public	6-8	2250 N Ocoee Street	Cleveland	37311	Bradley County	Bradley County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 476-0630	1,045	69	15.2	47.8%	888 (85.0%)	31 (3.0%)	81 (7.8%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (3.8%)	72.6	130^th of 594 public middle schools	78.1%		71.9	134^th of 583 public middle schools	77.0%	4	47.8	48.3	53.7	49.9	44.1	37.1	42.1	41.1									53.5	56.1	55.5	55.0	61.1	56.9	56.0	58.0	$11,269	$587	$9,829
Cleveland Middle School	Public	6-8	3635 Georgetown Road N. W.	Cleveland	37312	Bradley County	Cleveland City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 479-9641	1,302	89	14.6	63.7%	617 (47.4%)	126 (9.7%)	424 (32.6%)	26 (2.0%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.5%)	101 (7.8%)	32.2	422^nd of 594 public middle schools	29.0%		35	385^th of 583 public middle schools	34.0%	37	27.1	31.1	22.2	27.0	29.6	20.9	25.7	25.3	81.5	81.5							32.9	34.6	36.3	34.6	38.7	39.0	37.3	38.3	$12,680	$607	$11,369
Athens City Middle School	Public	6-8	200 Keith Lane	Athens	37303	McMinn County	Athens City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 745-1177	507	27	18.5	66.5%	358 (70.6%)	33 (6.5%)	54 (10.7%)	10 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	51 (10.1%)	52.8	274^th of 594 public middle schools	53.9%		59.2	207^th of 583 public middle schools	64.5%	67	38.2	48.1	39.3	42.3	40.0	32.6	35.0	35.8	88.2	88.2							38.8	41.4	42.3	40.8	52.7	47.8	35.9	45.7	$11,779	$813	$10,127

Frequently Asked Questions about Chilhowee Middle School

What high school do graduates of Chilhowee Middle School attend?

Students who attend Chilhowee Middle School usually go on to attend Polk County High School

What district is Chilhowee Middle School in?

Polk County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Chilhowee Middle School?

Students at Chilhowee Middle School are 95% White, 3% Hispanic, 1% African American.

How many students attend Chilhowee Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 293 students attended Chilhowee Middle School.

Is Chilhowee Middle School a good school?

Chilhowee Middle School ranks 272^nd of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Chilhowee Middle School!

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Schools in Benton, 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.