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Sullivan Central Middle School

Q: Is Sullivan Central Middle School a good school?

Sullivan Central Middle School ranks 207 th of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

207^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 594 Tennessee Middle Schools

Better than 65% of Tennessee middle schools

Summary

Sullivan Central Middle School is a mid-sized school serving grades 6 through 8 in Blountville, Tennessee, with 604 students enrolled in the Sullivan County Schools district. The school has maintained a steady 3-star rating over the past four years, ranking 207th out of 594 Tennessee middle schools in the most recent year — a solid mid-tier position that makes it the strongest middle school in Sullivan County. It clearly outperforms its county counterparts: Sullivan Heights Middle School ranks 303rd and Sullivan East Middle School ranks 453rd, with Sullivan Central leading both in math, English, science, and social studies proficiency.

The school's most impressive strength is its Algebra I program. An extraordinary 85.2% of Sullivan Central students taking Algebra I scored proficient — far above the district average of 32.6% and comparable to the state's top 8th-grade Algebra I students. Science and social studies also exceed state averages, with social studies proficiency (52.6%) outpacing the district by more than seven points. Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds perform notably well here, ranking in the 72nd percentile statewide, and the school's scores have improved steadily across all subjects over the past four years.

There is room for growth, however. Chronic absenteeism has improved from 26.3% to 20.9% over three years, but still sits above the state average of 18.3%. Nearby city schools like Liberty Bell Middle School and Indian Trail Middle School have much lower absenteeism rates and rank considerably higher overall. Special education outcomes also lag the school's overall performance. Still, with per-student spending of $13,175 — above most surrounding schools — and a clear upward trajectory, Sullivan Central appears well-positioned to continue closing the gap with the region's top middle schools.

604

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,175

Per pupil spending ?

131 Shipley Ferry Road
Blountville, TN 37617

(423) 354-1200

District: Sullivan County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.0%

Hispanic:

2.5%

Two or more races:

2.5%

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Compare Sullivan Central Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 64th percentile in 2023 → 65th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Tennessee median (65th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg41%

Tennessee avg44%

207^th of 594

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 1 pts since 2023

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st 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	61.3	207 of 594	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.8	220 of 583	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.4	213 of 587	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.9	211 of 594	64.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	49.5	274 of 546	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.0	247 of 554	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.3	185 of 560	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	63.9	134 of 478	72.0%	★★★★☆
2025	57.2	167 of 490	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.7	211 of 510	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.7	280 of 514	45.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	61.1	185 of 550	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.4	169 of 560	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.3	238 of 557	57.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	36.8	193 of 349	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.3	233 of 332	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.3	208 of 299	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.7	191 of 288	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	46.0	253 of 494	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.5	249 of 492	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.2	248 of 504	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.5	261 of 503	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)72nd percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)66th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)50th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)49th percentile-16 vs school

Special Education (2026)45th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I85%+53 vs state

Social Studies53%~ state avg

Science48%~ state avg

Mathematics40%-3 vs state

English Language Arts39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Sullivan Central 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	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 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 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		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
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	46.7%	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		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		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
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		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
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	52.0%	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
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	49.7%	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
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	49.2%	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
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	41.0%	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
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		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

Frequently Asked Questions about Sullivan Central Middle School

What district is Sullivan Central Middle School in?

Sullivan County Schools

How many students attend Sullivan Central Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 604 students attended Sullivan Central Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Sullivan Central Middle School?

Students at Sullivan Central Middle School are 93% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

Is Sullivan Central Middle School a good school?

Sullivan Central Middle School ranks 207^th of 594 Tennessee middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Sullivan Central Middle School!

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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.