Summary:
ZIP code 37183, covering the Wartrace area of Tennessee, is served by two schools within Bedford County Schools – Cascade Elementary School (PK-5, 621 students) and Cascade Middle School (6-8, 360 students) – a combined enrollment of 981 that forms a natural feeder cluster.
Both schools are standout performers, rated 4 stars and ranking in the 82nd-83rd percentile statewide, despite their district being ranked only in the 38th percentile. Cascade Elementary excels across the board, exceeding state averages in math (59.8% vs. 43.0%), ELA (56.5% vs. 40.6%), and science (57.7% vs. 46.9%), while keeping chronic absenteeism low at 13.3%. Cascade Middle is very strong in math (59.0%), science (54.0%), and especially social studies (62.6% vs. 51.4% state), but its ELA proficiency (39.2%) falls just below the state average – the clear weak spot. The middle school also has higher chronic absenteeism (18.6%) than the district or state, which may be linked to its literacy challenges.
Comparing the two schools, the elementary outperforms the middle in math and science by a small margin, and dramatically in ELA (56.5% vs. 39.2%). The middle school’s social studies is its standout subject, with 7th graders reaching 74.8% proficiency. Grade-level data shows an upper-grade slump: 5th grade is the weakest at the elementary, while 8th grade has the lowest ELA (34.3%) and science (47.7%) at the middle school, even though its 8th grade math is the strongest (64.5%). Year-over-year trends are mixed – the elementary saw math drop from 64.7% to 59.8%, while the middle improved in math and social studies. Spending is slightly higher at the middle school ($12,553 vs. $11,852 per student). Overall, this is a high-performing pair of schools, with Cascade Elementary as a model school and Cascade Middle needing targeted ELA support in the upper grades.
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