Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 37660

Zip code 37660 in Kingsport, Tennessee contains just one middle school: John Sevier Middle School, which serves grades 6–8 with an enrollment of 818 students as part of Kingsport City Schools. This school stands out for its rapid improvement, climbing from the 56th percentile in statewide rank in 2023–2024 to the 76th percentile in 2025–2026, and earning a 4-star rating after two consecutive 3-star years.

Compared to Tennessee averages, John Sevier Middle School performs above the state in most all-grades subjects: math proficiency is 44.6% versus 43.0% statewide, English language arts is 42.7% versus 40.6%, science is 54.8% versus 46.9%, and social studies is 59.0% versus 51.4%. The school also reports exceptional results in advanced math, with 92.9% proficiency in Algebra I and 93.8% in Geometry, though these likely reflect a select group of advanced students. However, the school trails its district in every core subject, with gaps of roughly 10 points in math and ELA. The district itself ranks 21st out of 141 Tennessee districts, so this gap does not imply weak performance. A larger concern is chronic absenteeism: 34.4% of students are chronically absent, far above the district rate of 24.3% and the state rate of 18.3%.

Grade-level trends show a notable challenge: proficiency drops sharply after 6th grade. Math falls from 58.8% in 6th grade to 36.1% in 7th grade and 37.8% in 8th grade, while ELA falls from 52.9% to 40.0% to 35.7%. Despite this, the school improved in every subject from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, including a 10.5-point gain in ELA and a 7.7-point gain in math. Even in 8th-grade Algebra I, the school's 84.2% proficiency is solid, though below the district's 93.9% and the state's 88.3%. The school spends $14,291 per student, indicating strong investment, but data on free/reduced lunch and student-teacher ratios were not reported, limiting a fuller picture. Overall, John Sevier Middle School is on an upward trajectory, with improving academics and high attendance-related risk that families may want to monitor.