Summary:
Zip code 38544, located in Baxter, Tennessee, is served by a single high school: Upperman High School, which enrolls 899 students in grades 9–12 and belongs to the Putnam County Schools district. Upperman has been on an upward trajectory in recent years, improving its state ranking from the 40th percentile (2 stars) in 2024–2025 to the 55th percentile (3 stars) in 2025–2026, placing it 180th out of 400 high schools in Tennessee. The school's graduation rate of 91.2% sits above the state average of 90.5%, while its dropout rate of just 1.2% is dramatically lower than the state's 6.7% and even the district's 1.9%.
Academically, Upperman posted impressive year-over-year gains on TNReady tests, with proficiency rising in all six core subjects. Geometry showed the largest improvement at +17.0 percentage points, followed by Algebra I (+12.8), Algebra II (+10.7), and Biology I (+10.1). English II (58.2% proficient) and Algebra II (39.6% proficient) are relative strengths, matching or exceeding both district and state averages. However, Algebra I remains a major concern: only 20.6% of students are proficient, roughly 12 points below district and state averages. English I also trails the state, with 28.6% proficiency compared to 37.3% statewide.
The most notable red flag is chronic absenteeism. At 23.0%, Upperman's rate is significantly higher than the district's 17.3% and the state's 18.3%, suggesting many students are missing substantial instructional time even as the school retains them well. Grade-level data reveals interesting patterns: advanced 9th graders taking English II achieved 89.5% proficiency, while 11th graders taking Geometry (30.0% proficient) outperformed comparable students across the district and state. Per-student spending is $11,388. Overall, Upperman High School appears to be an improving institution with strong student retention and broad academic gains, but addressing Algebra I performance and chronic absenteeism will be key to continuing its climb in Tennessee's rankings.
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