Commission moves Bluff City High School from Tier 3 to Tier 2 after leadership details attendance and academic progress

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission on Jan. 24, 2025, voted to move Bluff City High School from Tier 3 probation to Tier 2 intervention following a detailed presentation from the school’s leadership team and a discussion of academic and attendance data. Commissioners emphasized the move recognized measurable progress while making clear the change was not a removal of oversight.

Why it matters: The commission’s tier designation alters the level and frequency of oversight of a school and frames expectations ahead of Bluff City’s renewal in 2026. Commissioners said the Tier 2 decision acknowledges progress while preserving the commission’s authority to hold the school accountable.

What the school reported - Chronic absenteeism: Bluff City’s overall chronic absenteeism rate, the leadership team said, fell from 56.3% at the same point last year to 46.7% this year — a reported year‑over‑year decrease of roughly 17% from that baseline. Leadership emphasized the decrease shows movement but acknowledged substantial work remains. - End‑of‑Course (EOC) participation: Leadership reported student EOC participation rates above 97% in every tested subject this year, which staff said supports inclusion of scores in accountability calculations. - TBOS and letter grades: Staff said the school had moved from a TBOS 1 in a prior year to TBOS 5 and had improved its state letter grade from an F to a C, while noting that gains were uneven and staffing and leadership turnover remained challenges. - Attendance and family engagement strategies: The school described targeted outreach by student‑family support specialists, changes to…