Summary:
Zip code 37737 is served by a single middle school, Union Grove Middle School in Friendsville, TN, which enrolls 623 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Blount County Schools district.
Union Grove Middle School currently holds a 2-star rating from the state, dropping from a 3-star rating the previous year, with its state percentile ranking slipping from the 56th to the 46th percentile. Academic performance presents a mixed picture. While the school posts an impressive 85.7% proficiency rate in Algebra I, this figure is actually below the district (89.9%) and state (88.3%) averages for 8th graders specifically taking that course. Overall grade-level math proficiency is a significant concern, with only 28.7% of students proficient compared to 43.0% statewide. Sixth (27.6%) and seventh (26.9%) grade math scores lag particularly far behind state averages. Chronic absenteeism is notably high, affecting 23.4% of students—meaning over 140 students—compared to 18.3% statewide, which is likely a contributing factor to these lower test scores.
Despite the challenges in math, the school shows relative strengths in other subjects. English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency improves as students advance, with 8th graders scoring 35.2%, outpacing both the district (34.0%) and state (32.3%). Science and Social Studies proficiency, while slightly below state averages, are within a few percentage points of them. Overall, Union Grove Middle School is navigating a period of transition, with a recent decline in its state ranking and persistent achievement gaps in foundational math and attendance. The school's success in advanced math courses and upper-grade ELA provides a foundation to build upon, but targeted interventions in 6th and 7th-grade math and efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism will be critical to reversing its downward trend.
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