Sullivan County Education System: An Overview

The Sullivan County Department of Education is located in the beautiful mountains of northeastern Tennessee. The system is comprised of schools, divided into zones, and serves students in grades Pre-K through 12. At Sullivan County Schools, the focus is on academic excellence, innovation, and student success. The Sullivan County Board of Education, in partnership with students, families, employees and community, utilizes all available resources to provide a collaborative learning environment that will enable each student to reach his/her maximum potential as a productive and successful citizen in an ever changing global and technological environment. The vision of the Sullivan County Department of Education is to prepare each student and teacher to meet the challenges of the world today and tomorrow with the skills and desire for lifelong learning.

District Overview

Sullivan County contains 17 schools and 8,082 students. Schools in the District:

Preschools: 10
Elementary Schools: 11
Middle Schools: 5
High Schools: 2

Sullivan County Schools operates 17 schools.

Student Demographics

The student body at the schools served by Sullivan County is diverse. The racial makeup is as follows: 93.8% white, 0.9% Black, 0.4% Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander, 2.8% Hispanic/Latino, 0.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. In addition, 1.9% of students are two or more races, and 0% have not specified their race or ethnicity. Also, 49% of students are female, and 51% of students are male.

A significant portion of the student population is economically disadvantaged, with 99.0% of students eligible to participate in the federal free and reduced price meal program.

Read also: Your Guide to the Sullivan Portal

Enrollment by Diversity: Black or African American, Asian or Asian Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander are not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Teachers and Staff

Within Sullivan County School District, 100.0% of teachers are licensed. The student-to-teacher ratio is lower than the state average, at 11:1. The district has 2 full-time counselors on staff.

Student-teacher ratio: 11:1State average: 14:1Percentage of teachers who are certified (average): 100.0%Number of full-time school counselors: 2

As of the 2023-2024 school year, Sullivan County Schools had 538.33 full-time classroom teachers. The Student/Teacher Ratio is 14.06.

Academic Performance

Test Scores at Sullivan County School District: In Sullivan County School District, 47% of elementary students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 32% tested at or above that level for math. Also, 47% of middle school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 32% tested at or above that level for math. And 60% of high school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 21% tested at or above that level for math.

Test Scores at Sullivan County: In Sullivan County, 34% of elementary students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 45% tested at or above that level for math. Also, 35% of middle school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 33% tested at or above that level for math. And 34% of high school students tested at or above that level for math.

High school college readiness: 7.3High school graduation rate: N/ATest score proficiency

Finances

Sullivan County spends $11,707 per student each year. It has an annual revenue of $108,240,000. Sullivan County School District spends $24,338 per student each year. It has an annual revenue of $16,853,000.

Innovative Programs

Sullivan County Schools offers a wide range of dynamic programs designed to prepare students for college, careers, and beyond.

CTE Programs: Students in Sullivan County’s CTE programs gain hands-on experience in high-demand fields, preparing them for college and career success.
STEM & Robotics Pathways: Sullivan County middle school students have an opportunity to engage in a variety of STEM & Robotics pathways, preparing them to pursue higher level paths once they reach high school.
College Credit and Industry Credentials: Sullivan County Schools offer multiple pathways for students to earn college credit and industry credentials while still in high school, preparing them for future academic and career success.

Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI)

Sullivan County Schools is dedicated to providing educators with academically rigorous, standards-aligned resources that support effective teaching and meaningful student learning. The Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI) Model provides support to students whose academic performance indicates gaps in skills. RTI is a school-wide, multi-level prevention system and a tiered approach to service delivery that provides a systematic and data-based framework through which learners’ needs are met through research-based instructional interventions. A consistent, informed intervention program for all students will result in a stronger academic foundation and increased opportunities for achievement. Sullivan County is fully implementing a unified RTI2 approach in all grade levels.

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Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)

BOCES stands for Board of Cooperative Educational Services. The Sullivan County BOCES is one of 37 such organizations statewide created by the legislature in 1948 to provide shared services to school districts. BOCES services are created when two or more school districts decide they have similar needs that can be met by a shared program. BOCES helps school districts save money by providing opportunities to pool resources and share costs. Sharing is a very economical way for districts to provide programs and services that they might not be able to afford otherwise. It is more efficient and less costly to operate one central service instead of having separate programs in each school district. Each year, local Boards of Education review their districts’ needs and make decisions about BOCES services. Because districts’ needs change every year, decisions about BOCES services may also change every year. The decision to participate in BOCES services is based on the unique needs of each district. Because BOCES services are shared by two or more school districts, they cost much less than if districts provided the services on their own. Districts pool their resources, and share the savings. In addition, New York State gives a financial incentive to participate in shared services by offering BOCES state aid for BOCES services. With the exception of an administrative charge based on each school district’s size, districts pay only for BOCES services they use. BOCES expenses are incorporated into each district’s annual budget. State aid helps to offset some of the expenses, while the state or federal government directly funds others. Each BOCES is governed by a Board of Education made up of representatives from the component school districts. The Board members are elected by the Boards of Education of the component districts.

List of Schools

Bluff City Elementary (282 Maple Dr, Bluff City, TN 37618)
Central Heights Elementary (158 Central Heights Rd, Blountville, TN 37617)
Emmett Elementary (753 Emmett Rd, Bristol, TN 37620)
Holston Elementary (2348 Hwy 75, Blountville, TN 37617)
Indian Springs Elementary (333 Hill Rd, Kingsport, TN 37664)
1001 Ormond Dr, Kingsport, TN 37664 (PK-5 | 545 students | Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 | Minority enrollment: 20%)
1100 Bellingham Dr, Kingsport, TN 37660 (K-5 | 526 students | Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 | Minority enrollment: 18%)
201 Bluff City Hwy, Bristol, TN 37620 (PK-5 | 397 students | Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 | Minority enrollment: 18%)
2440 Volunteer Pkwy, Bristol, TN 37620 (PK-5 | 402 students | Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 | Minority enrollment: 10%)
1517 Jessee St, Kingsport, TN 37664 (6-8 | 930 students | Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 | Minority enrollment: 20%)
2216 Westmoreland Ave, Kingsport, TN 37664 (PK-5 | 507 students | Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 | Minority enrollment: 24%)
1238 Moreland Dr, Kingsport, TN 37664 (PK-5 | 388 students | Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 | Minority enrollment: 5%)
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Mission and Vision

The Director of Schools is Dr.

Mission Statement: The Sullivan County Board of Education, in partnership with students, families, employees and community, will utilize all available resources to provide a collaborative learning environment that will enable each student to reach his/her maximum potential as a productive and successful citizen in an ever changing global and technological environment.

Vision: The vision of the Sullivan County Department of Education is to prepare each student and teacher to meet the challenges of the world today and tomorrow with the skills and desire for lifelong learning.

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