Summary:
There is one school in ZIP code 37826 — Niota Elementary School, a PK-8 public school in McMinn County Schools serving 523 students.
Niota Elementary is the only school in this area, so its results define the ZIP code. The school faces notable academic challenges: it scores below both its district and the state in every tested subject. The largest gaps are in Social Studies (33.3% proficient vs. 51.4% statewide) and English Language Arts (26.4% vs. 40.6% statewide), while Science is the closest to state averages (37.5% vs. 46.9%). However, there are clear bright spots. Fourth grade math is a standout, with 49% proficiency—matching the state average and exceeding the district. Third grade science also beats the district (41.3% vs. 38.1%). Chronic absenteeism is excellent at just 11.9%, far better than both the district (15.3%) and the state (18.3%), meaning attendance is not driving the low scores. Social Studies shows dramatic swings by grade—from a very weak 15% in 6th grade to a much stronger 48.3% in 7th grade—suggesting inconsistent instruction or significant cohort differences.
The clearest pattern is a decline in middle school grades. Students in 6th through 8th grade perform significantly worse than those in elementary grades, with especially low proficiency in 6th grade math and ELA (both 20%) and 8th grade ELA (15.6%). This suggests the transition to middle school is a critical weak point. The school’s state ranking has been in the bottom third of Tennessee elementary schools for three years (27th percentile in 2025–2026), and it is below its own district average by double digits in most subjects. Still, pockets of strong performance—like 4th grade math and overall good attendance—show that improvement is possible with targeted support, particularly for the middle grades and in social studies and ELA instruction.
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