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D
Schools in Central · Carter County School District

Central’s public schools score below 88% of Tennessee districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Central’s districts is 21%, below the Tennessee average (31%). The grade covers the public school district serving Central, 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
33%
▼ 4 pts vs TN 37%
2021–22
Math proficiency
21%
▼ 10 pts vs TN 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
75%
▼ 12 pts vs TN 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.7K
▼ 10% vs TN $13.1K
FY2024
Schools in town
1
1,604 students on the public path
In brief

Central’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 104 Tennessee towns with household incomes within a quarter of Central’s, its schools beat 19%, higher than their 12% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 33% of tested students were proficient in reading and 21% in math, against 37% and 31% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

75% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87% across Tennessee. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,729 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then four high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. 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 Central’s grade

C Test scoresD− Graduation

D: better than 12% of Tennessee school districts. Both inputs trail the Tennessee average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Tennessee school districts we grade (147)Better than 12%
Lower resultsHigher results
Tennessee towns with similar household incomes (104)Better than 19%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,756 test results and a graduating class of 397 could put Central anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Central’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,864 in math, 2,649 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–8Central ElementaryCarter County School DistrictC−
9–124 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to C+

Central’s public schools are run by Carter County School District, which also serves Watauga. 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.

Carter County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 14 schools · 4,450 students
$11,729TN $13,059 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading33%
State average 36.8% · 2649 students tested
Math21%
State average 31.1% · 2864 students tested

Central vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CentralDCarter County
ElizabethtonAElizabethton City
Johnson CityAJohnson City

Every school in Central

5 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 Centralby address
Central Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Johnson City
C−
267 studentsRate it →
Also serving Centralin other towns
Cloudland High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Roan Mountain
C+
236 studentsRate it →
Happy Valley High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Elizabethton
C+
449 studentsRate it →
Hampton High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Elizabethton
C
368 studentsRate it →
Unaka High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Elizabethton
C+
284 studentsRate it →

Questions about Central’s schools

Are Central’s schools good?

On Tennessee’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Central children attend score below 88% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 19%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Central in?

Carter County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,450 students in 14 schools (2024–25).

Where do Central kids go to high school?

One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Happy Valley High School, Hampton High School, Unaka High School and Cloudland High School.

What is Central’s graduation rate?

75% of the class of 2023 in Carter County School District graduated in four years, against 87% across Tennessee.

How much does Central spend per student?

$11,729 in Carter County School District (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Central families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Central → 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.