The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Volunteer State Virtual Academy Middle School
Volunteer State Virtual Academy Middle School is a public, regular-enrollment school serving grades six through eight. Its mailing address and administrative location are in Hohenwald, the county seat of rural Lewis County, Tennessee. The school is part of the Lewis County district. As a virtual academy, it delivers instruction online, which means students are not physically present in a traditional school building. For a family considering this school, the key implications involve the academic performance data, the student body composition, and the nature of the virtual model itself.
State testing results from the most recent academic year showed low proficiency rates across all four subjects tested for middle school. The proportion of students meeting Tennessee's proficiency standard in math was in the low double digits. In English language arts, the rate was under one in five. Science and social studies each had rates slightly above a quarter of students. These are significant soft spots, and a parent should look into this further with the school to understand what academic support and intervention structures are in place for students learning remotely. Participation rates on the tests were high, so the numbers reflect nearly all enrolled students' performance.
The student population is predominantly White, with Black students forming the second largest group, followed by a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races, a Hispanic presence, and very small numbers of Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, students with disabilities, and English learners were not available.
Hohenwald itself is a small county seat with a distinct Swiss-heritage origin, now a quiet, auto-dependent town. Its major institutional anchors include a courthouse, a museum, a large elephant sanctuary, and a treatment community. The population has shown a slight decline over the past decade, and the development trajectory appears stable rather than growing. Housing values in the area are below the state median, and the typical mortgage on a home is somewhat less costly than the national average, reflecting a relatively affordable market.
As a virtual middle school, this entity does not have a graduation rate because it serves only grades six through eight. No data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was available. There were no recent, publicly reported changes to the Lewis County district that would affect this school.
What this means for a parent is straightforward. Volunteer State Virtual Academy Middle School offers a fully remote academic pathway for middle school. The academic proficiency numbers are low, and a family would want to understand how the school monitors progress and what tutoring or live instruction it provides. The lack of data on some student supports like special education means a parent should ask direct questions about those services. The town of Hohenwald is a stable, low-cost rural community, but the virtual model means a family could live anywhere within the district's boundaries or beyond, depending on Tennessee's open-enrollment or virtual policy. This is not a school that will suit every family; it fits best for those who are explicitly seeking an online middle school setting and who will investigate the academic support structure closely.
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