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Bluff City Elementary School

Q: Is Bluff City Elementary School a good school?

Bluff City Elementary School ranks 623 rd of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

623^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Bluff City Elementary School serves 504 students in grades PK–5 in Bluff City, Tennessee, part of the Sullivan County Schools district. The school is ranked in the 39th percentile statewide, giving it a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger, which is lower than most of its nearby peers. On the latest state assessments, Bluff City students scored close to the state average in math (41.2% proficient vs. 43.0% statewide) and ELA (40.0% vs. 40.6%), but noticeably below the state average in science (38.4% vs. 46.9%).

That science gap is one of the clearest differences between Bluff City and its neighbors. Schools like Lake Ridge Elementary (82.1% proficient in science), West Side Elementary (74.2%), and Haynesfield Elementary (73.7%) post far higher science scores, and they also rank much higher overall — in the 97th, 92nd, and 89th percentiles, respectively. Among Sullivan County peers, Holston Elementary (64th percentile), Mary Hughes School (67th percentile), and Central Heights Elementary (68th percentile) all outperform Bluff City, which ranks at the same level as Emmett Elementary (39th percentile). Chronic absenteeism is another concern: 21.0% of Bluff City students were chronically absent in 2024–2025, well above the state rate of 18.3% and more than double the rates at nearby schools like Lake Ridge (6.0%) and Mary Hughes (9.6%).

The encouraging news is that Bluff City has made real progress in recent years. Math proficiency has climbed from 28.9% to 41.2% since 2022–2023, with similar gains in ELA and science, and special education outcomes have improved dramatically. However, the school's statewide rank has barely moved because many other Tennessee schools improved at the same time. There's also a concerning pattern by grade: students start near district norms in 3rd grade but fall further behind by 5th grade, especially in math and science. The school spends $13,452 per student, which is more than some higher-performing nearby schools, so the challenge isn't funding — it's translating resources into growth in the upper grades, improving science instruction, and reducing absenteeism.

504

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,452

Per pupil spending ?

66.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

282 Maple Drive
Bluff City, TN 37618

(423) 354-1825

District: Sullivan County Schools

Students who attend Bluff City Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Sullivan East Middle School
High:	Sullivan East High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.9%

Hispanic:

3.2%

Two or more races:

3.0%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Bluff City Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 36th percentile in 2015 → 39th in 2026

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Sullivan County Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg41%

Tennessee avg43%

623^rd of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 14 pts since 2017

From bottom 24% (2017) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 10Elementary Schools in the Sullivan County Schools

63^rd of 141Sullivan 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	41.6	623 of 1019	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.2	627 of 1009	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.3	634 of 1018	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.1	704 of 1020	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.7	742 of 1000	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.1	720 of 983	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.7	613 of 985	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.9	684 of 997	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	32.9	488 of 646	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	44.8	547 of 855	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	53.2	391 of 853	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.4	400 of 846	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	51.9	434 of 820	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	35.3	594 of 818	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	58.5	346 of 809	57.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	28.0	748 of 986	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.9	564 of 990	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.8	666 of 989	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.6	700 of 975	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.0	784 of 945	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.6	655 of 926	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	43.9	480 of 823	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.6	438 of 843	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.1	606 of 853	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.3	500 of 865	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.5	643 of 858	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	47.4	389 of 823	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.9	599 of 821	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.0	498 of 877	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	48.3	495 of 984	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.5	667 of 991	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	680 of 987	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.7	741 of 980	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.0	528 of 941	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.8	507 of 916	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	32.9	424 of 641	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	19.1	583 of 618	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.3	567 of 582	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	27.3	422 of 528	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.1	289 of 447	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.6	254 of 395	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	25.6	685 of 849	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.0	695 of 840	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.9	686 of 847	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.9	765 of 852	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.2	776 of 844	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.4	767 of 844	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.1	641 of 812	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.3	740 of 841	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2025)50th percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)42nd percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2026)34th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)24th percentile-14 vs school

White (2026)19th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics41%~ state avg

English Language Arts40%~ state avg

Science38%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bluff City Elementary 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 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 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	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 Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	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
Bluff City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	282 Maple Drive	Bluff City	37618	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1825	544	33	16.4		508 (93.4%)	3 (0.6%)	16 (2.9%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.6%)	41.6	623^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	38.9%		38.2	627^th of 1009 public elementary schools	37.9%	4	39.7	46.4	37.5				41.2	37.2	38.1	44.3				40.0	43.6	40.5	31.8				38.4					$13,452	$857	$11,659
Avoca Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2440 Volunteer Parkway	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 652-9445	402	27	14.9	42.6%	361 (89.8%)	3 (0.7%)	20 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.5%)	71.4	234^th of 1019 public elementary schools	77.0%		75.4	192^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	81.0%	42	53.3	71.0	43.8				55.7	62.2	54.1	42.2				53.3	66.7	56.5	48.4				57.7					$13,270	$963	$11,396
Mary Hughes School	Public	PK, KG-5	240 Austin Springs Road	Piney Flats	37686	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1835	352	24	14.9	49.5%	325 (92.3%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	62.6	337^th of 1019 public elementary schools	66.9%		67.5	263^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	73.9%	74	45.8	50.9	61.0				52.1	47.9	46.3	39.0				44.8	58.3	49.1	61.0				55.6					$14,565	$927	$12,876
Haynesfield Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	201 Bluff City Highway	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 652-9292	397	25	15.7	34.4%	327 (82.4%)	7 (1.8%)	26 (6.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.8%)	86.3	112^th of 1019 public elementary schools	89.0%		85.9	116^th of 1009 public elementary schools	88.5%	4	54.4	63.8	65.0				61.3	64.9	62.3	60.0				62.4	66.7	81.2	71.7				73.7					$12,763	$565	$11,461
Holston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2348 Hwy 75	Blountville	37617	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1550	625	38	16.4	54.2%	595 (95.2%)	3 (0.5%)	9 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	13 (2.1%)	60.3	364^th of 1019 public elementary schools	64.3%		52	462^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	54.2%	98	31.6	55.3	59.6				48.6	43.2	47.9	43.2				44.8	52.6	62.8	47.2				54.3					$13,937	$1,576	$11,559
Anderson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	901 Ninth Street	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 652-9444	268	23	11.5	77.6%	213 (79.5%)	8 (3.0%)	12 (4.5%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	31 (11.6%)	51.2	481^st of 1019 public elementary schools	52.8%		43.8	552^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	45.3%	71	43.3	42.2	56.7				46.7	51.6	40.0	43.3				44.3	41.9	40.0	53.3				44.3					$16,786	$1,576	$14,099
Hunter Elementary School	Public	K-8	145 Hope Street	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 547-4074	519	39	13.4		462 (89.0%)	4 (0.8%)	38 (7.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.3%)	36.2	681^st of 1019 public elementary schools	33.2%		31.3	720^th of 1009 public elementary schools	28.6%	39	28.3	51.5	49.3	14.9	34.4	44.1	37.2	33.3	52.2	30.4	26.9	21.3	16.9	30.5	36.7	61.8	27.5	23.9	32.8	42.4	37.5	23.9	37.7	42.4	34.2	$12,895	$1,281	$10,869
West Side Elementary School	Public	K-5	1310 Burgie Street	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Elizabethton City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 547-8030	362	21	16.9	23.5%	324 (89.5%)	9 (2.5%)	12 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.4%)	90.6	82^nd of 1019 public elementary schools	92.0%		93.6	59^th of 1009 public elementary schools	94.2%	23	56.0	76.5	67.6				67.7	70.0	82.4	60.3				71.0	60.0	88.2	70.6				74.2					$13,724	$759	$12,338
Emmett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	753 Emmett Road	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1865	309	24	12.8		296 (95.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	41.7	620^th of 1019 public elementary schools	39.2%		34.4	687^th of 1009 public elementary schools	31.9%	67	14.3	47.8	17.1				26.9	46.9	54.3	22.9				43.1	51.0	56.5	14.3				43.1					$15,170	$1,610	$12,440
Central Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	158 Central Heights Road	Blountville	37617	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1575	235	19	12.3		223 (94.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	63	329^th of 1019 public elementary schools	67.7%		71.8	225^th of 1009 public elementary schools	77.7%	104	44.1	76.5	61.1				60.6	58.8	58.8	38.9				51.9	41.2	52.9	33.3				42.3					$14,828	$972	$12,913

Frequently Asked Questions about Bluff City Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Bluff City Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Bluff City Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sullivan East Middle School
High : Sullivan East High School

What is the racial makeup of Bluff City Elementary School?

Students at Bluff City Elementary School are 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Bluff City Elementary School a good school?

Bluff City Elementary School ranks 623^rd of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Bluff City Elementary School in?

Sullivan County Schools

How many students attend Bluff City Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 504 students attended Bluff City Elementary School.

Rate Bluff City Elementary School!

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Schools in Bluff City, 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.