The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 66%.
Original Research by School Decision on Science Hill High School
Science Hill High School is a regular public high school serving grades nine through twelve in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is a large school, with an enrollment that places it among the bigger high schools in the region. The school is part of the Johnson City district, which along with the Washington County district makes up the two school systems serving Washington County. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic presence, smaller Black and Asian populations, and a share of students identifying as two or more races. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status were not available in the records provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those support structures.
The academic data available for Science Hill is thin and dated. State assessment results came from a single year and a single grade level—eighth-grade English language arts from the 2010–11 school year—and showed a proficiency rate that, when compared across the county’s two school districts, fell in the top quartile. That comparison is relative to very few peers, and the data itself is from a grade that the school no longer serves, predating the current high school cohort by several years. No state testing results for high school subjects, no graduation rate, and no chronic absenteeism figures were present in the records. These are significant gaps for a high school, and any parent evaluating Science Hill would need to seek current information from the school or district on graduation rates, college-ready indicators, and course access.
The school operates as a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. Its Title I status was not reported, and no information was provided about discipline, staffing, attendance, or course offerings such as Advanced Placement, dual credit, or career and technical programs. Without these details, it is difficult to assess the breadth of academic pathways available.
Johnson City is a mid-sized economic anchor for the Tri-Cities region, shaped heavily by East Tennessee State University and a concentration of healthcare employers—Ballad Health, the VA medical center, and multiple hospitals. The local economy also includes manufacturing and retail. Housing in the area around the school has a median value below the state average, and typical rents consume a modest share of household income, suggesting relative affordability for the region. The city has a historic downtown, but much of its residential and commercial development is auto-oriented, with older neighborhoods near the center and newer subdivisions spreading outward. The university and medical complex create a separate node of activity from the downtown core.
Given the scarcity of current academic and program data, the most concrete thing a family can observe about Science Hill is its size and its place in a city with a strong university and medical presence. A parent interested in the school will likely want to follow up with the school or district for up-to-date information on graduation outcomes, advanced coursework, and support services, which are not captured in the available records.
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