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Below Average

#1581 of 1,785 schools in TN

Little Milligan

Elementary School · Carter County

4226 Hwy 321, Butler, TN 37640

Enrollment

89

Student-Teacher

12.7:1

Score

4.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Tennessee elementary schools

#897 of 1,002

In district

#15 of 15

Carter County

School environment

8.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Little Milligan

Little Milligan serves 89 students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Butler, Tennessee, offering an intimate educational environment with a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio and 7 full-time equivalent teachers. This regular public elementary school has earned recognition as a strong performer, ranking #282 out of 1,796 schools statewide and placing in the 84th percentile among Tennessee elementary schools with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. The school's small size allows for personalized attention and close student-teacher relationships, creating a family-like atmosphere where every child is known and supported.

Located on Highway 321 in Carter County, Little Milligan serves a rural community where the median household income is $49,965 and homes have a median value of $118,700. The surrounding area has a population of 3,517 residents, with 16% holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a poverty rate of 12.6%. Little Milligan provides elementary education in Tennessee's beautiful rural landscape, where students can benefit from both quality academics and the close-knit community character that defines small-town schooling in the region.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 89 students, Little Milligan is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Little Milligan may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.6Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-1.25 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics4.0Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12%
Reading/ELA Proficiency32%
Overall Proficiency22%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected-11.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile21th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,253

Little Milligan — Students at Little Milligan score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TN EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 17.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 29.5%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from TN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
22%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
32%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.6/10.

How Little Milligan Compares

See how Little Milligan performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.3/10
12th percentile in TN
Academic
4.0/10
4.0/10
Growth
2.6/10
Below average
Environment
8.9/10
Above average

Location

4226 Hwy 321, Butler, TN 37640

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Little Milligan may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Valley Forge Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 9.6 miles away, in nearby Elizabethton), which scores notably higher. Another option is Freedom Trail Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 12.0 miles away, in nearby Elk Park), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Bethel Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 9.6 miles away, in nearby Sugar Grove), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Butler, see our Butler schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 12.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Unaka Elementary Elizabethton 7.6 mi 5.3
Cloudland Elementary School Roan Mountain 8.6 mi 4.5
Cloudland High School Roan Mountain 8.6 mi 4.4
Unaka High School Elizabethton 8.5 mi 4.7
Hampton Elementary Hampton 8.4 mi 6.9
Hunter Elementary Elizabethton 8.8 mi 6.8
Hampton High School Hampton 9.1 mi 6.3
Doe Elementary Mountain City 10.4 mi 3.5
Bethel Elementary Sugar Grove 9.6 mi 8.3
Valley Forge Elementary Elizabethton 9.6 mi 8.8
Cranberry Middle Elk Park 12.0 mi 6.8
Freedom Trail Elementary Elk Park 12.0 mi 8.7
ELIZABETHTON ACADEMY Elizabethton 10.2 mi
East Side Elementary Elizabethton 10.4 mi 7.5
RAINBOW CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Elk Park 12.5 mi
Harold McCormick Elementary Elizabethton 11.1 mi 7.7
Siam Learning Center Elizabethton 12.1 mi 5.8
Carter County Online Academy Elizabethton 12.1 mi 5.5
T A Dugger Junior High School Elizabethton 11.9 mi 6.5
EAST TN CHRISTIAN HOME & ACADEMY Elizabethton 12.1 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 37640 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$47,404

Median Home Value

$154,400

Median Rent

$674/mo

Population

3,343

College Educated

16.1%

Homeownership

84.3%

Avg Commute

40.9 min

Poverty Rate

16.5%

Median Age

54

Community Profile

The community surrounding Little Milligan has a median household income of $47,404. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $154,400, with a median rent of $674/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.5%. The average commute in the area is 41 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Kenton Elementary School Kenton, TN 4.3
SACRED HEART SCHOOL Loretto, TN 4.5
Sharps Chapel Elementary Sharps Chapel, TN 4.5
Coker Creek Elementary Tellico Plains, TN 4.6
LENOIR CITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lenoir City, TN 4.6
LESTER COON ADVENTIST SCHOOL Apison, TN 4.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Little Milligan

What grades does Little Milligan serve?

Little Milligan serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Little Milligan?

Little Milligan has an enrollment of approximately 89 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Little Milligan?

The student-teacher ratio at Little Milligan is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Little Milligan rank in TN?

Little Milligan is ranked #1581 out of 1,785 schools in TN.

What is Little Milligan's MySchoolScout rating?

Little Milligan has a composite rating of 4.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Little Milligan?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Little Milligan has 17.0% math proficiency and 29.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Little Milligan a charter school?

No, Little Milligan is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Little Milligan a Title I school?

No, Little Milligan is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

County Safety
Elevated (937/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
89
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Carter County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Carter County
District Enrollment
4,630
Schools in District
15
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,526
District Rank
#15 of 15

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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