The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Social studies. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Union Grove Middle School
Union Grove Middle School sits in Friendsville, a small rural community in western Blount County with a quiet, agricultural character shaped by its Quaker settlement history and the long-running marble quarrying industry. The town has seen essentially flat population growth for decades, and its everyday texture is low-density residential and farmland scattered along the roads that lead to Fort Loudoun Lake. The school itself draws a substantial student population for a middle school, serving grades six through eight from the surrounding area.
The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a modest Hispanic share and very small numbers of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as counts for students with disabilities and English learners, was not available, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the level of economic diversity and specialized support available.
On the state’s TNReady assessments, the results present a mixed picture. In math, about a third of students scored at the proficient level or above, which places this school below the midpoint among its county peers. Reading and English language arts results were similar, with roughly a third reaching proficiency. Science and social studies came in higher: in science, a little over two out of every five students were proficient, and in social studies, the share was close to half. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Blount County. This is a meaningful signal for a family weighing academic expectations. Participation rates on the assessments were very high, meaning the results reflect nearly the full student body rather than a selective test-taking pool.
The school is a regular public middle school, not a charter or magnet, and operates as part of the Blount County district. No information was available on course access, discipline patterns, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism, so a family moving to the area would want to ask about class sizes, enrichment offerings like electives or advanced coursework, and the school’s approach to student behavior and attendance. Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report.
Friendsville itself offers minimal walkability and a very small civic footprint. There is no public library branch in town and no public transit. Fort Loudoun Lake and the surrounding trails and parks anchor much of the recreational life, and Pellissippi State Community College’s Blount County campus is located in town. Housing values in the area are moderate for the region. The lack of any major new housing developments or commercial expansion in available sources suggests a stable, not rapidly changing, community.
For a family, Union Grove Middle School presents a straightforward picture. The school serves a large, predominantly white student body in a rural setting where growth is slow and the economy has historically relied on quarrying, agriculture, and the community college. Academic proficiency rates are below the county average, particularly in math and reading, and a parent should investigate what programs or supports are in place to push those numbers upward. The school participates fully in state testing with very high participation, so the data is reliable. If higher test scores or a more diverse peer environment are priorities, other options in Blount County might be worth exploring. If a quiet small-town setting and familiarity are what matter, this school fits that context directly.
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