The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in Science. The lowest is 6% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Orchard Knob Elementary School
Orchard Knob Elementary School, a regular public school in Chattanooga serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, sits within the Hamilton County school system. The school has a total enrollment that, for an elementary school in a mid-sized city, is a moderately sized student body. The student population is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic presence and a small number of students who are white or identify as two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and on the number of students receiving special education services or English learner supports, was not available in the data we reviewed. A family considering this school would want to ask the school directly about the specific support resources available.
The neighborhood around the school, in the 37404 zip code, has home values that are notably lower than the state and national benchmarks. Rents in the area are also below those larger averages, making the immediate vicinity a more affordable entry point into Chattanooga's housing market. The broader city of Chattanooga itself has experienced significant downtown revitalization and population growth in recent years, with a diversified economy that includes automotive, healthcare, insurance, and tourism sectors. The Tennessee Riverwalk and downtown cultural institutions are major civic anchors, but the school's location in the city places it within a context of both established neighborhoods and ongoing urban redevelopment.
Because Orchard Knob is an elementary school only, there is no graduation rate to report. The most direct measure of academic performance comes from the state's TNReady assessments. Across the tested subjects of math, English language arts, and science, the school's proficiency rates are low. In math, about one in seven students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts and science, the share was similarly low, with roughly one in seven students meeting the state's bar for proficiency. These results place the school in a position where a very large majority of students are not meeting grade-level academic benchmarks. A parent considering this school should be aware that the data shows a significant academic challenge exists, and they would want to have a detailed conversation with school leadership about the specific instructional strategies, intervention programs, and supports in place to address these performance levels.
The data we reviewed did not include any information about the school's course offerings, staffing ratios, or discipline rates. Similarly, a comparison to other districts in Hamilton County was not possible because the cohort of comparable school districts was too small to generate a meaningful comparison. The absence of this comparative context means a family evaluating Orchard Knob should rely primarily on the available proficiency data and on direct inquiry with the school about its programs and climate.
Hamilton County Schools, the district that operates Orchard Knob, has made two notable changes in recent years that affect the educational landscape. The district has adopted a structured literacy approach grounded in the science of reading, beginning with kindergarten through second grade and expanding to higher grades thereafter. This shift to explicit phonics-based instruction represents a lasting change in how reading is taught across the district, which would apply directly to Orchard Knob's primary-grade classrooms. Additionally, the district opened a new East Brainerd Elementary School in 2023, replacing a building destroyed by a tornado, which affects capacity and zoning in another part of the county but does not directly change Orchard Knob's attendance zone.
Orchard Knob Elementary School serves a predominantly minority student population in a city that is growing and economically diversifying. Its academic results on state assessments are very low, and a family looking at this school should seek a clear understanding of the school's plan for improving student outcomes and the specific academic interventions available to help children meet grade-level expectations.
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