Summary:
Zip code 37307, located in the Benton, Tennessee area, is served by exactly one middle school: Chilhowee Middle School, which educates roughly 293 students in grades 6 through 8 as part of Polk County Schools.
As the only middle school in the area, Chilhowee Middle School carries the full responsibility for middle-level education, and its recent trajectory is encouraging. The school improved from a 2-star to a 3-star rating, climbing from the 37th to the 54th percentile in statewide rankings between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. It outperforms its home district in every tested subject—a notable feat given that Polk County Schools ranks in the bottom 11% of Tennessee districts. Strong year-over-year gains were seen in all subjects, including a dramatic 10.4-point jump in Science and a 9.6-point jump in Mathematics. Seventh graders are the clear standout, outperforming state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies, while 8th grade remains a concern, particularly in ELA (25.5% proficiency) and Social Studies (34.0% proficiency).
Despite this positive momentum, families should be aware of persistent challenges. Chronic absenteeism sits at 24.8%, well above the district rate of 21.1% and the state average of 18.3%, meaning roughly one in four students is missing too much school. Across all grades, the school still trails state averages in every subject, with the largest gap in Mathematics (36.7% vs. 43.0% statewide). Per-student spending is reported at $12,935, though data on free/reduced lunch rates and student/teacher ratios were not available. Overall, Chilhowee Middle School appears to be a rising school within a low-performing district, offering strong momentum and a standout 7th grade, but families should watch progress in 8th grade and attendance rates closely.
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