Summary:
The city of Bolivar, Tennessee is home to three public schools that serve students from elementary through high school: Bolivar Elementary, Central High School, and Bolivar Middle School. These schools, which are part of the Hardeman County Schools district, have consistently struggled to meet academic standards, with all three schools ranking in the bottom 20% of their respective school types in Tennessee over the past three years.
Bolivar Elementary, the largest of the three schools with 756 students, has a diverse student population that is predominantly African American (72.88%). However, the school has consistently received a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating its poor academic performance. Similarly, Central High School, with 697 students and a student body that is 61.41% African American, has also been ranked in the bottom 20% of Tennessee high schools. Bolivar Middle School, the smallest of the three with 317 students and a 72.87% African American population, has consistently received a 0-star or 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
The low academic performance of these schools is reflected in their test scores, which are significantly below the state averages across all subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, Bolivar Elementary's proficiency rates ranged from 19.3% to 38.6%, while Central High School's proficiency rates were between 13% and 32.7%. Bolivar Middle School had the lowest proficiency rates, ranging from 5.2% to 24.7%. These challenges may be exacerbated by potential resource constraints, as the schools' spending per student is slightly below the state average, and the high free/reduced lunch rates suggest a low-income student population.
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