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C+
Schools in Bluff City · Sullivan County School District

Bluff City’s public schools score below 58% of Tennessee districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 26% of Bluff City’s students scored proficient, below the Tennessee average (31%). The grade covers the public school district serving Bluff City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Tennessee, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Tennessee state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
32%
▼ 5 pts vs TN 37%
2021–22
Math proficiency
26%
▼ 5 pts vs TN 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 2 pts vs TN 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.1K
▼ 7% vs TN $13.1K
FY2024
Schools in town
1
4,752 students on the public path
In brief

Bluff City’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 32% of tested students were proficient in reading and 26% in math, against 37% and 31% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across Tennessee. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,103 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then three middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is down 7% since 2021–22. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bluff City’s grade

C+ Test scoresB Graduation

C+: better than 42% of Tennessee school districts. Graduation is above the Tennessee average; test scores are below it.

Tennessee school districts we grade (147)Better than 42%
Lower resultsHigher results
Tennessee towns with similar household incomes (251)Better than 40%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 5,150 test results and a graduating class of 611 could put Bluff City anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Bluff City’s students in the tested grades sat them (5,359 in math, 4,941 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bluff City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Bluff City ElementarySullivan County School DistrictC
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC

Bluff City’s public schools are run by Sullivan County School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Sullivan County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 15 schools · 7,878 students, down 7% since 2021–22
$12,103TN $13,059 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading32%
State average 36.8% · 4941 students tested
Math26%
State average 31.1% · 5359 students tested

Bluff City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Tennessee towns that share Bluff City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Bluff CityC+Sullivan County
BristolB+Bristol City

Every school in Bluff City

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Tennessee’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bluff Cityby address
Bluff City Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
504 studentsRate it →
Also serving Bluff Cityin other towns
Sullivan Heights Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Kingsport
630 studentsRate it →
Sullivan Central Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Blountville
604 studentsRate it →
Sullivan East Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
586 studentsRate it →
West Ridge High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Blountville
1,612 studentsRate it →
Sullivan East High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
816 studentsRate it →

Questions about Bluff City’s schools

Are Bluff City’s schools good?

On Tennessee’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bluff City children attend score below 58% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 40%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bluff City in?

Sullivan County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 7,878 students in 15 schools (2024–25).

Where do Bluff City kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: West Ridge High School and Sullivan East High School.

What is Bluff City’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Sullivan County School District graduated in four years, against 87% across Tennessee.

How much does Bluff City spend per student?

$12,103 in Sullivan County School District (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Bluff City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bluff City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Tennessee. Stars are from neighbors.