The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Math. The lowest is 41% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School
Candy’s Creek Cherokee Elementary School is a regular public elementary school in the Cleveland district, serving students from pre‑kindergarten through fifth grade. The school’s enrollment is large for its grade band, with the biggest grade‑level groups centering on the upper elementary years. The student body is predominantly white, with a significant Hispanic component; smaller shares of students identify as Asian, Black, or two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced‑price meals, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners were not available, so a parent who cares about those support structures would want to ask the school directly.
The school sits in Cleveland, a city with a well‑established industrial and manufacturing economy. Cleveland is the county seat of Bradley County and is often described as having one of the larger industrial bases in Tennessee, with a roster of manufacturers that includes well‑known national names. The city’s retail corridor is anchored in its northern section by a large mall, and the built environment is typical of a mid‑sized Southern city that has grown outward over time. The Tennessee Valley Divide has historically constrained expansion to the south and east, but the city’s land area has increased over the past two decades. Major employers include corporate headquarters for companies in health care and financial services alongside the manufacturing sector. Civic anchors include a recently built park at the city’s founding site, a history museum and cultural center, and a state‑certified arboretum. The district itself has no publicly reported recent changes of lasting impact to note.
On the Tennessee state assessments, Candy’s Creek Cherokee turned in results that, taken together, place it among the stronger performers in its home county. In math, a majority of tested students scored at or above the proficient level. In English language arts, the same held true, with a similar share reaching proficiency. In science, the rate was lower, with fewer than half of students hitting that mark. The school’s composite proficiency index sits in the top quartile of schools within Bradley County, a comparison that carries weight because the county is a small set of districts. That context matters: the school is in a county with only two districts, so the comparison is narrow, and the index reflects a combined view of all tested subjects and grades, not a single score. For a family familiar with how Tennessee draws its cut scores, the proficiency rates show a school whose results are solidly above the midpoint of its immediate peers.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to examine, and data on chronic absenteeism were not reported. Disciplinary outcomes, course access, and staffing ratios were also not available in the data provided. A parent who wants the full picture on school climate or teacher turnover would need to source that from the school or district directly.
Housing in the school’s zip code is priced near the statewide median for Tennessee, and home values have been basically flat in recent months, while rents have ticked down slightly. For a family weighing a move into the attendance zone, the housing market appears stable rather than rapidly appreciating. Affordability relative to national benchmarks is roughly in line with what many mid‑sized Southern markets show; the estimated monthly mortgage payment and the typical rent are close enough that either path is common for local households.
Candy’s Creek Cherokee is a school that a parent would consider if they want an elementary setting in a community with a strong manufacturing and industrial employment base, with academic results that are above the local median on the state’s own measures, particularly in reading and math. The gaps in the available data mean a prospective family will have to do some legwork to understand the full support picture, but on the core academic indicators that are publicly reported, the school shows a pattern of proficiency that is a clear strength relative to its immediate neighbors.
See more original research from School Decision →