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Sullivan East Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

453^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 594 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 24% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Sullivan East Middle School is a public school in Bluff City, Tennessee, serving 586 students in grades 6–8 as part of Sullivan County Schools, a district that ranks in the top half of Tennessee districts. However, the school itself ranks 453rd out of 594 Tennessee middle schools, placing it in the 24th percentile with a 1-star rating — a clear low performer relative to its district and the state.

Academically, Sullivan East trails its district and the state in every core subject. In math, only 21.4% of students are proficient, versus 39.8% in Sullivan County Schools and 43.0% statewide. English Language Arts proficiency is 25.0%, compared to 39.7% in the district and 40.6% in Tennessee. The gap is most severe in 8th grade math, where just 8.9% of students meet grade-level expectations versus 38.3% statewide. Sullivan East is the lowest-performing middle school in the area; nearby Sullivan Central Middle School achieves nearly double the math proficiency (40.2%), while Ross N. Robinson Middle School posts 53.6% in math and 51.3% in ELA. Even the Algebra I pathway lags: only 39.3% of 8th graders taking Algebra I are proficient, versus 88.3% statewide and 85.2% at Sullivan Central.

Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern, rising from 17.8% in 2020–2021 to 28.4% in 2024–2025 — more than one in four students — compared to 18.3% statewide. Subgroup effectiveness rankings are also very low, with special education students at the 2nd percentile and low-income students at the 14th percentile. On a more positive note, Social Studies is the school's strongest subject and has shown steady improvement, reaching 36.2% proficiency. Yet spending of $12,510 per student is comparable to far higher-performing nearby schools, raising questions about resource allocation. For parents, attendance and math achievement are the most urgent areas to watch.

586

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,510

Per pupil spending ?

23.9%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

4500 Weaver PIKE
Bluff City, TN 37618

(423) 354-1000

District: Sullivan County Schools

Students who attend Sullivan East Middle School usually attend:

High:

Sullivan East High School

Feeder schools for Sullivan East Middle School:

Elementary:	Bluff City Elementary School
	Emmett Elementary School
	Mary Hughes School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.2%

Hispanic:

3.1%

Two or more races:

2.6%

See top rated Tennessee middle schools

Compare Sullivan East Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 37th percentile in 2023 → 24th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (28% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (28% vs 18% Tennessee)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school28%

District avg41%

Tennessee avg44%

453^rd of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Bottom 24%▲ up 8 pts since 2021

From bottom 15% (2021) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Middle 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	26.5	453 of 594	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.6	445 of 583	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.0	413 of 587	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.7	375 of 594	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.6	438 of 569	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.2	487 of 576	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	26.7	415 of 546	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.2	390 of 554	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.3	379 of 560	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	19.4	454 of 552	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.6	458 of 538	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	19.5	249 of 286	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.5	200 of 285	29.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	21.5	410 of 478	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.8	435 of 490	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.5	380 of 510	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.7	387 of 514	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.6	430 of 495	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.5	428 of 483	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	25.5	426 of 550	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.9	400 of 560	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.3	358 of 557	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.3	389 of 540	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.4	442 of 529	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	16.6	342 of 349	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	38.7	170 of 332	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.6	229 of 299	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.3	257 of 288	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.4	211 of 260	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.5	206 of 238	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	14.7	458 of 494	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.5	453 of 492	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.4	443 of 504	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.3	411 of 503	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.5	457 of 500	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.2	482 of 496	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)24th percentile~ school

Male (2025)23rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)14th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)13th percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)7th percentile-16 vs school

Special Education (2026)2nd percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I39%+7 vs state

Social Studies36%-15 vs state

Science30%-16 vs state

English Language Arts25%-16 vs state

Mathematics21%-22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Sullivan East 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 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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	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 Algebra I 7th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Geometry 7th Grade	TNReady Geometry 8th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	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
Sullivan East Middle School	Public	6-8	4500 Weaver PIKE	Bluff City	37618	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1000	565	36	15.6	23.9%	526 (93.1%)	2 (0.4%)	20 (3.5%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.3%)	26.5	453^rd of 594 public middle schools	23.7%		26.6	445^th of 583 public middle schools	23.7%	8		23.4	28.9	8.9	21.4		28.7	28.9	17.0	25.0		39.3	39.3					29.8	34.1	27.1	30.5	30.3	42.2	35.5	36.2	$12,510	$788	$10,935
Bristol Tennessee Middle School	Public	6-8	840 Alabama Street	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 652-9449	893	50	17.9	25.0%	771 (86.3%)	28 (3.1%)	50 (5.6%)	8 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.0%)	74.4	115^th of 594 public middle schools	80.6%		73.9	116^th of 583 public middle schools	80.1%	1		47.2	55.5	37.4	46.6		42.0	45.7	32.6	39.8		≥ 95%	≥ 95%					63.7	64.5	47.7	58.2	66.0	73.3	59.9	66.2	$12,386	$968	$10,812
T A Dugger Junior High School	Public	6-8	305 West E Street	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Elizabethton City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 547-8025	623	39	16.0	20.4%	558 (89.6%)	10 (1.6%)	23 (3.7%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.3%)	72.1	136^th of 594 public middle schools	77.1%		74.7	110^th of 583 public middle schools	81.1%	26		50.5	45.2	58.6	51.1		47.1	35.0	41.4	41.1		93.1	93.1					52.6	43.0	55.6	50.3	66.8	61.0	58.6	62.1	$12,571	$568	$11,422
Sullivan Central Middle School	Public	6-8	131 Shipley Ferry Road	Blountville	37617	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1200	594	39	15.2	20.0%	566 (95.3%)	5 (0.8%)	10 (1.7%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.5%)	61.3	207^th of 594 public middle schools	65.2%		57.8	220^th of 583 public middle schools	62.3%	13		39.3	44.1	37.8	40.2		41.0	44.4	33.3	39.0		85.2	85.2					46.7	52.7	44.3	47.5	51.3	58.1	49.6	52.6	$13,175	$1,354	$10,895
Happy Valley Middle School	Public	5-8	163 Warpath Lane	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 547-4070	361	22	16.7	31.1%	322 (89.2%)	3 (0.8%)	27 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.5%)	60.6	212^th of 594 public middle schools	64.3%		73.3	125^th of 583 public middle schools	78.6%	87	30.4	33.6	41.5	48.6	38.7	21.7	35.8	36.2	18.7	28.1							31.5	47.3	50.0	57.9	47.1	47.3	70.2	64.5	60.1	$12,441	$1,262	$10,504
Indian Trail Middle School	Public	6-8	307 Car Mol Drive	Johnson City	37601	Washington County	Johnson City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 610-6000	797	53	14.9	36.9%	564 (70.8%)	76 (9.5%)	89 (11.2%)	17 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.3%)	90.3	42^nd of 594 public middle schools	92.9%		89	47^th of 583 public middle schools	91.9%	5		59.9	62.1	60.9	61.0		57.5	60.2	50.7	56.5		≥ 95%	≥ 95%					72.9	67.6	61.7	67.7	71.3	79.7	58.4	70.5	$13,786	$434	$12,895
Liberty Bell Middle School	Public	6-8	718 Morningside Drive	Johnson City	37604	Washington County	Johnson City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 232-2179	937	61	15.3	34.0%	623 (66.5%)	66 (7.0%)	139 (14.8%)	34 (3.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	74 (7.9%)	89.9	43^rd of 594 public middle schools	92.8%		90.1	43^rd of 583 public middle schools	92.6%			68.2	52.5	53.8	58.4		67.7	46.0	52.4	55.3		≥ 95%	≥ 95%					74.7	66.0	69.6	70.0	81.5	71.9	68.8	74.1	$12,476	$637	$11,373
Ross N. Robinson Middle School	Public	6-8	1517 Jessee Street	Kingsport	37664	Sullivan County	Kingsport City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 378-2200	930	62	15.1	21.7%	748 (80.4%)	30 (3.2%)	60 (6.5%)	16 (1.7%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	70 (7.5%)	85.1	60^th of 594 public middle schools	89.9%		84.1	61^st of 583 public middle schools	89.5%	1		59.7	46.6	53.2	53.6		56.4	48.2	49.3	51.3	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%		≥ 95%	≥ 95%		67.1	62.6	60.8	63.5	67.3	71.0	63.2	67.2	$13,302	$697	$11,964
Sullivan Heights Middle School	Public	6-8	1236 Moreland Drive	Kingsport	37664	Sullivan County	Sullivan County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1300	646	41	15.7	25.7%	606 (93.8%)	9 (1.4%)	18 (2.8%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.4%)	47.6	303^rd of 594 public middle schools	49.0%		54.7	235^th of 583 public middle schools	59.7%	68		42.4	37.0	9.7	32.0		30.3	37.0	33.0	33.7		84.4	84.4					34.8	53.2	34.5	41.8	43.9	51.1	39.5	45.4	$13,261	$843	$11,621
John Sevier Middle School	Public	6-8	1200 Wateree Street	Kingsport	37660	Sullivan County	Kingsport City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 378-2450	799	59	13.6	38.8%	570 (71.3%)	55 (6.9%)	68 (8.5%)	8 (1.0%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (11.8%)	71.1	144^th of 594 public middle schools	75.8%		60.1	202^nd of 583 public middle schools	65.4%	58		58.8	36.1	37.8	44.6		52.9	40.0	35.7	42.7	≥ 95%	84.2	92.9		93.8	93.8		53.4	56.5	54.6	54.8	56.5	64.7	56.2	59.0	$14,291	$1,370	$12,231

Frequently Asked Questions about Sullivan East Middle School

Is Sullivan East Middle School a good school?

Sullivan East Middle School ranks in the bottom 23.7% of Tennessee middle schools.

What district is Sullivan East Middle School in?

Sullivan County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Sullivan East Middle School?

Students at Sullivan East Middle School are 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Sullivan East Middle School attend?

Students who attend Sullivan East Middle School usually go on to attend Sullivan East High School

How many students attend Sullivan East Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 586 students attended Sullivan East Middle School.

Rate Sullivan East Middle 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.