The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in Social studies. The lowest is 42% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Calhoun Elementary
Calhoun Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the small riverfront town of Calhoun, Tennessee. It operates under the McMinn County school system, a district that covers a mix of small towns and rural areas in southeastern Tennessee. The school’s grade span means it is the sole public school option for elementary and middle grade students in the immediate area; students then move on to high schools elsewhere in the county after eighth grade.
The school’s academic performance on Tennessee’s state assessments places it in a strong position compared to other districts in McMinn County. On a combined proficiency index that averages results across tested subjects, Calhoun Elementary scores in the top quartile among the county’s three districts. Looking at individual subjects, more than half of students reached proficiency in math, and the figure was higher in science. Reading and English language arts fell below that mark, with proficiency at a moderate level. Social studies was the strongest subject, though it was tested in a smaller group of students. Overall, the school’s test results show a mixed picture: solid in math and science, softer in ELA, with room for growth. Parents may want to ask the school about specific supports for literacy and reading comprehension.
The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and a very small number of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. This composition reflects the demographics of Calhoun itself, a very small town where the dominant employer has long been a pulp and paper mill that has significantly contracted in recent years. The town’s population has been essentially flat to slightly declining, and the local economy has narrowed. Housing values in the school’s zip code are below the state median but roughly in line with the national median, making the area relatively affordable compared to many parts of Tennessee. Monthly housing costs appear manageable, though wage and income data for the town were not individually available.
Several pieces of information that families often look for were not reported or were missing from the available data. Free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner counts were not provided. The school’s discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, and staffing ratios were also absent. A parent may want to follow up directly with the school or the district for these details. Because Calhoun Elementary serves only through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to evaluate. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not reported.
Calhoun itself is a very small, low-density town where the school sits within the community rather than on a separated campus. The town’s historic core sits near the Hiwassee River, and civic life is modest. The school is the only public school in town; the local high school closed years ago, which means families must look to the county system for secondary options. The district itself has not reported any recent parent-relevant changes, so the operating context appears stable but without notable new initiatives.
For families considering Calhoun Elementary, the academic picture is one of relative strength within the county, particularly in math and science, with a more mixed result in English language arts. The peer environment is small and racially homogeneous, set in a town with a contracting industrial base and little new development. Housing is affordable by state standards. The lack of data on student support programs and school climate means that a visit and conversation with school leaders would be especially valuable to fill in the gaps.
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