The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Social studies. The lowest is 8% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence Middle
Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence Middle is a public charter school serving grades six through eight in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It operates as a regular school within the Hamilton County district, but as a charter it has its own governance and educational approach. The school is located on Union Avenue, in the heart of the city, and draws its students from the broader Chattanooga area.
The student body is predominantly Black and Hispanic, reflecting the surrounding community. The school enrolls a small number of white students and a very small number of multiracial or Native American students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are learning English was not available. That information would give a fuller picture of the student supports needed, and a parent may want to ask the school directly about these details.
State testing results from the most recent school year show that the school’s proficiency rates are low across all subjects. In math, a small share of students scored at the proficient or above level. In English language arts, the share was even smaller. Science and social studies proficiency rates were also low, though slightly higher than in math or reading. All students participated in the tests, so the results are complete. The school’s performance is below the district and state averages, and a parent considering this school may want to learn more about the instructional programs and any improvement efforts underway.
Chattanooga itself is a mid-sized city that has undergone a substantial downtown revitalization in recent decades. Known for its outdoors-oriented riverfront, the Tennessee Aquarium, and a growing mix of industries including automotive, healthcare, and tourism, the city has a diversified economy. The school sits in a central area, not far from the downtown core. The city’s population has been growing, and housing values in the area are moderate compared with national benchmarks. The local housing market shows a mix of rental and for-sale options, with rents and home prices that are broadly in line with the region.
The Hamilton County district, which oversees all public schools in the county, has made two notable recent changes that may be relevant to families. It opened a new East Brainerd Elementary School in 2023, replacing a school destroyed by a tornado, and it has adopted a structured literacy approach grounded in the science of reading, starting with the early grades. These changes are district-wide, but the charter school operates with its own autonomy, so its curriculum may differ.
There is no data available on the school’s staffing levels, discipline rates, or chronic absenteeism, which are common gaps that would help a family understand the daily environment. Since the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school’s test results are the main public indicator of academic performance, and they show that the vast majority of students are not yet meeting grade-level standards. A family considering this school should weigh its small size and charter status against the academic outcomes, and may want to speak with school leadership about improvement plans and the specific supports offered to students.
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