Summary:
Zip code 37804 in Maryville, Tennessee is home to two public middle schools serving grades 4 through 8: Coulter Grove Intermediate School and Heritage Middle School. Coulter Grove, part of Maryville City Schools, serves 902 students in grades 4–7, while Heritage, part of Blount County Schools, serves 638 students in grades 6–8.
The two schools sit at opposite ends of the academic spectrum. Coulter Grove Intermediate School consistently ranks among the best schools in Tennessee, earning a 97th percentile ranking (20th out of 594 schools) for 2025–2026 with a 5-star rating. Heritage Middle School, meanwhile, ranks in the 51st percentile (293rd out of 594) with a 3-star rating, and its ranking has steadily declined from the 66th percentile over the past three years. The academic gap is stark: Coulter Grove's math proficiency is 73.6% compared to Heritage's 30.7%, and its ELA proficiency is 68.6% versus 32.1%. Chronic absenteeism reveals a similar divide — Coulter Grove's rate is 10.9% versus Heritage's 21.5%, which exceeds the state average of 18.3%. Notably, per-student spending is similar at both schools ($11,730 vs $11,229), yet outcomes diverge dramatically.
Heritage does have a bright spot: its 8th grade Algebra I proficiency reached 87.5%, nearly matching the state average of 88.3%, indicating a strong advanced-math program for select students. However, Heritage's 7th grade proficiency rates are particularly concerning, with math at 19.2% and ELA at 23.8% — far below both Coulter Grove and state averages. Coulter Grove, meanwhile, shows a mild decline from 4th to 7th grade in math and ELA, but every grade and subject remains well above state averages. Within the same zip code, these two schools offer fundamentally different educational experiences, making school choice a critical consideration for families.
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