Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Sullivan East Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

445^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 583 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 24% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Sullivan East Middle School is a public middle school located in Bluff City, Tennessee, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 565 students. The school is part of the Sullivan County School District, which is ranked 66 out of 139 districts in Tennessee and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the school's efforts, Sullivan East Middle School consistently ranks in the bottom half of Tennessee middle schools, with proficiency rates in Mathematics (24.3%) and English Language Arts (21.7%) that are over 15 percentage points lower than the state and county averages. The school's performance on TNReady assessments is significantly below the state and county averages across all subjects and grade levels, and subgroup performance is also a concern, with Sullivan East Middle School ranking in the bottom half of Tennessee middle schools for various student groups. One bright spot is the school's performance in Algebra I, where proficiency rates have been significantly higher than the state and county averages over the past 3 years.

Addressing the persistently high chronic absenteeism rates at Sullivan East Middle School, which have ranged from 18.9% to 23.0% over the past 4 school years, should be a priority for the school and district. The school's academic struggles also place it well behind many of its neighboring schools, such as John Sevier Middle School, Ross N. Robinson Middle School, and Liberty Bell Middle School, which consistently outperform Sullivan East on state assessments.

586

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,510

Per pupil spending ?

4500 Weaver PIKE
Bluff City, TN 37618

(423) 354-1000

District: Sullivan County

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
	Emmett Elementary
	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: Improving — 15th percentile in 2021 → 24th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2021

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (28% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school28%

District avg41%

Tennessee avg43%

445^th of 583

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Bottom 24%▲ up 8 pts since 2021

From bottom 15% (2021) to bottom 24% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Middle Schools in the Sullivan County

66^th of 139Sullivan County 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
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
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
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
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)

Special Education (2025)49th percentile+25 vs school

Female (2025)24th percentile~ school

Male (2025)23rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)13th percentile-11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)11th percentile-12 vs school

White (2025)8th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Algebra I56%+27 vs state

Social Studies32%-17 vs state

Science31%-15 vs state

Mathematics24%-18 vs state

English Language Arts22%-17 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Sullivan East Middle School and help other families decide.

Rate Sullivan East Middle School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Sullivan East Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)					TNReady English Language Arts (2025)					TNReady Algebra I (2025)		TNReady Science (2025)					TNReady Social Studies (2025)				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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 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	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1000	565	36	15.6		526 (93.1%)	2 (0.4%)	20 (3.5%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.3%)	26.6	445^th of 583 public middle schools	23.7%		31	413^th of 587 public middle schools	29.6%	32		33.2	22.0	14.9	24.3		25.8	18.5	20.2	21.7	56.0	56.0		35.1	28.0	30.6	31.4	32.5	30.2	34.1	32.3	$12,510	$788	$10,935
Bristol Tennessee Middle School	Public	6-8	840 Alabama ST	Bristol	37620	Sullivan County	Bristol	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 652-9449	893	50	17.9		771 (86.3%)	28 (3.1%)	50 (5.6%)	8 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.0%)	73.9	116^th of 583 public middle schools	80.1%		65.6	167^th of 587 public middle schools	71.6%	51		49.4	40.9	40.7	43.7		48.0	34.3	38.0	40.0				63.7	53.3	55.4	57.3	72.4	60.7	58.3	63.7	$12,386	$968	$10,812
T A Dugger Junior High School	Public	6-8	305 West E ST	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Elizabethton	No	No	No	No	(423) 547-8025	623	39	16.0		558 (89.6%)	10 (1.6%)	23 (3.7%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.3%)	74.7	110^th of 583 public middle schools	81.1%		75.8	103^rd of 587 public middle schools	82.5%	7		43.6	46.3	59.5	49.1		39.7	46.1	42.4	42.8	85.7	85.7		46.3	53.4	56.5	51.9	67.2	62.1	56.8	62.2	$12,571	$568	$11,422
Sullivan Central Middle School	Public	6-8	131 Shipley Ferry RD	Blountville	37617	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1200	594	39	15.2		566 (95.3%)	5 (0.8%)	10 (1.7%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.5%)	57.8	220^th of 583 public middle schools	62.3%		59.4	213^th of 587 public middle schools	63.7%	7		43.6	38.7	27.8	37.2		45.8	37.4	30.9	38.0	78.3	78.3		48.0	50.2	38.7	46.1	50.8	56.2	33.7	47.7	$13,175	$1,354	$10,895
Innovation Academy	Public	6-8	2348 Hwy 75 HWY	Blountville	37617	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	No	(423) 354-1731	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Happy Valley Middle School	Public	5-8	163 Warpath LN	Elizabethton	37643	Carter County	Carter County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 547-4070	361	22	16.7		322 (89.2%)	3 (0.8%)	27 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.5%)	73.3	125^th of 583 public middle schools	78.6%		67.4	154^th of 587 public middle schools	73.8%	29	28.4	52.9	51.1	41.7	42.8	43.2	51.4	34.0	24.0	37.2			48.4	68.6	52.7	58.3	56.2	54.3	76.3	57.3	63.3	$12,441	$1,262	$10,504
Indian Trail Middle School	Public	6-8	307 Car Mol DR	Johnson City	37601	Washington County	Johnson City	No	No	No	No	(423) 610-6000	797	53	14.9		564 (70.8%)	76 (9.5%)	89 (11.2%)	17 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.3%)	89	47^th of 583 public middle schools	91.9%		88.4	45^th of 587 public middle schools	92.3%	2		65.6	62.2	49.5	59.5		61.4	50.5	44.0	51.8				69.2	67.7	56.9	64.3	77.9	74.7	60.7	70.7	$13,786	$434	$12,895
Liberty Bell Middle School	Public	6-8	718 Morningside DR	Johnson City	37604	Washington County	Johnson City	No	No	No	No	(423) 232-2179	937	61	15.3		623 (66.5%)	66 (7.0%)	139 (14.8%)	34 (3.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	74 (7.9%)	90.1	43^rd of 583 public middle schools	92.6%		91.8	32^nd of 587 public middle schools	94.5%	11		62.3	57.6	46.0	56.4		59.6	50.9	52.8	54.6				67.4	70.4	62.9	67.0	73.2	71.4	69.5	71.4	$12,476	$637	$11,373
Ross N. Robinson Middle School	Public	6-8	1517 Jessee ST	Kingsport	37664	Sullivan County	Kingsport	No	No	No	No	(423) 378-2200	930	62	15.1		748 (80.4%)	30 (3.2%)	60 (6.5%)	16 (1.7%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	70 (7.5%)	84.1	61^st of 583 public middle schools	89.5%		83.7	65^th of 587 public middle schools	88.9%	4		62.6	51.6	46.2	54.1		50.7	47.6	41.1	46.4				67.3	62.2	56.5	62.0	64.5	71.0	60.2	65.2	$13,302	$697	$11,964
Sullivan Heights Middle School	Public	6-8	1236 Moreland DR	Kingsport	37664	Sullivan County	Sullivan County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 354-1300	646	41	15.7		606 (93.8%)	9 (1.4%)	18 (2.8%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.4%)	54.7	235^th of 583 public middle schools	59.7%		44.8	316^th of 587 public middle schools	46.2%	81		47.3	36.4	36.9	40.8		41.6	35.3	30.3	36.0	87.5	87.5		41.2	35.1	46.0	40.9	46.5	42.9	45.5	45.1	$13,261	$843	$11,621

Frequently Asked Questions about Sullivan East Middle School

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

What district is Sullivan East Middle School in?

Sullivan County

How many students attend Sullivan East Middle School?

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

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.

Is Sullivan East Middle School a good school?

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

Rate Sullivan East Middle School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

TNTennessee Middle School Rankings

TNTennessee District Rankings

Schools in Bluff City, TN

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Sullivan East Middle School!

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.