The Tennessee Department of Education’s recent report card offers insights that go beyond surface appearances—much like the values we cherish in people, it’s what’s inside that truly counts.
Pro Tip: If you want to cut to the chase, look at the link/chart at the bottom of this article.
Education isn’t just about modern buildings or cutting-edge facilities; it’s about the people—teachers, students, administrators—and the quality of learning. These are things you can’t judge from a simple drive-by.
We’ve compiled a regional composite list of 42 traditional public schools within the Kingsport-Bristol-Johnson City, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), spanning four cities and five counties (see below). To provide a more holistic view, we’ve created a composite score that tracks student experiences from elementary through high school. This approach highlights discrepancies that might not be obvious at first glance—like an excellent elementary school feeding into a less successful middle or high school.
Our goal is to help homebuyers understand the full picture of what they’re investing in when they choose a home.
One key finding: newer homes and schools don’t always translate into better academic outcomes. Interestingly, three of the region’s top-performing schools are housed in 70- to 100-year-old buildings in central Kingsport. These schools serve a diverse student population, including higher percentages of students with disabilities and economic hardships. On the other hand, Kingsport’s newest school also ranks among the high performers, proving that success can happen under a range of conditions.
This success is even more remarkable when you consider Kingsport’s financial challenges. Over the years, county funding for Kingsport schools has been systematically reduced, and its share of federal funding is lower than that of neighboring districts. Despite these hurdles, Kingsport has taken two former county schools (Lynn Garden, now John F. Kennedy, and West View, now Theodore Roosevelt) and transformed them into the 7th and 11th highest-performing schools in the region. These accomplishments highlight the strength and resilience of Kingsport’s education system.
It’s a well-known trend: schools with students from homogeneous, nuclear-family households often perform better due to increased resources, stronger support systems, and greater home stability. Yet, Kingsport has proven that success is achievable even with a more diverse and representative cross-section of students.
When choosing your next home, it’s essential to dig deeper. Look beyond the aesthetics of a house or neighborhood to understand the realities of the schools that serve it. Sometimes, a mid-century modern, Tudor-style historic home, or a renovated split-foyer property in a mature neighborhood can offer better school access than a brand-new house in a neighboring county.
By doing your homework, you’ll uncover opportunities to make an informed decision—not just about where you’ll live, but how your choice impacts education for the next generation.
Kingsport Spirit 
Leave a comment