Anderson County Schools hoping to continue streak of student excellence
'I think by looking at our graduation statistics this year, we are a well-rounded school system. From academics to athletics, we've got people that excel in all of those,' Sutton said. 'We have a state championship runner who won the two-mile and we've also got a Haslam Scholar that's going to UT this fall semester. We've got each and every one of those things covered from athletics to academics.'
Coal Creek Miners Museum preserving stories of coal miners and their struggles
Those graduation statistics are in the neighborhood of a 95%-100% graduation rate. On top of the students going to two- or four-year institutions next year, there are several who have made the decision to serve our country and one doing so in a unique way.
'At Anderson County High School, we have a Navy JROTC, and at Clinton High School we have an Air Force JROTC. Both are state and nationally renowned programs,' Sutton added. 'I think those set the foundation for those students to let them know that there are a lot of careers in the military field they can go into. We actually have one student this year that's going to be in the Marine Corps Band after he goes to basic training, and we're really excited about that.'
Getting these students to the next chapter takes work but it can't be done alone. Sutton commends the work of everyone involved in the school system helping the students.
'A county of stories' Anderson County's rich history revealed through archival records
'I think it's all about everybody, from every single employee. We have a saying around here, 'every student, every day and make every day count,'' he explained. 'That's what we try to do here. Whether you're a teacher in the classroom, an assistant or your somebody that's on our classified staff or even a coach, we are making every day count and making every student every day making sure they have the tools and the skills they need to succeed in life.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Axios
14 hours ago
- Axios
Habitat for Humanity to dedicate 1,000th home
On a cloudy day in the summer of 1986, volunteers and community leaders gathered outside a newly constructed home in St. Petersburg. Among them was Jane Dunaway and her two sons, the family set to receive the first house built by Habitat for Humanity's fledgling Pinellas County chapter. Why it matters: On Friday, four decades later, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside is set to dedicate its 1,000th home. It's a major milestone for a nonprofit that offers a path to homeownership for low- and middle-income families at a time when the cost of living has become untenable for nearly half of Tampa Bay residents. Driving the news: Set to receive the two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Lealman, north of St. Petersburg, is Shauntee Copeland and her 12-year-old son, Xavier Jones. For weeks, Copeland has been driving by the site of her future home off 52nd Avenue North, getting to know the community and her neighbors. "I'm so excited right now," she told Axios this week. "I got chills just talking to you." How it works: Habitat recipients receive a zero-interest mortgage that's no more than 30% of their household income. They also must complete homebuyer classes and hundreds of volunteer hours, some of which are spent helping build the house they'll eventually own. Zoom in: Copeland, 51, was born and raised in St. Pete. For nearly 30 years, she's worked as a certified nursing assistant at a local nursing home. The mom of three and grandmother of two ventured out on her own at 18 and began renting, she said. Making low wages, she began receiving government assistance through the Section 8 housing program. It was a big help, she said. Yes, but: Looking back, she realizes it also stunted her growth toward homeownership. About 10 years ago, Copeland said, she took "a leap of faith" and stopped receiving assistance. "Now," she said, "I feel ready to pay a mortgage. I'm not scared anymore." Zoom out: Copeland is representative of many of the clients the Habitat chapter serves, CEO Mike Sutton told Axios. About 80% of recipients are single mothers. About 85% are people of color. And more than half work in the health care industry. Clients are also typically from the communities that Habitat Tampa Bay Gulfside serves, Sutton said. State of play: In Pinellas, Habitat homes have been concentrated mostly in Lealman, the Greater Ridgecrest area near Largo, south St. Petersburg, and North Greenwood in Clearwater. The chapter expanded its service area in 2018 to include West Pasco County and last year to include Hernando County. What's next: Despite rising construction costs, Sutton said that from here, they'll hit the 2,000-home mark much quicker than the first 1,000. The organization has moved into townhome development to increase density, he said. As for Copeland, she looks forward to hosting her family for holidays and whipping up turkey wings, macaroni and cheese, and banana pudding in her new kitchen.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
University of Tennessee students are back on campus, and 'thank goodness for Google Maps'
The first week of classes has kicked off on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus, and students are finding the path of least resistance between classes, getting started on their studying and making new friends. UT has enrolled more than 40,000 students this year, including around 7,100 first-year students. The university will finalize the number on the 14th day of class, but it's already shaping up to be another record-breaking year at UT, where first-year students represent 46 states, plus Washington, D.C., as well as all 95 Tennessee counties and 33 countries. UT has 14 colleges on the Knoxville campus and hundreds of programs for undergraduates and graduate students to pursue, including the top-ranked supply chain management program and the undergraduate nursing programs, whose students will enjoy a new College of Nursing building this semester. Knox News spoke with several UT students on the first day of classes Aug. 18 to gauge how they're feeling about the new semester. Check out the video above and the photos below to see campus back in session. If you're a student, parent or alumnus, get our free weekly newsletter all about UT delivered straight to your inbox. "The T" comes out every Tuesday and features insights from higher education reporter Keenan Thomas, along with important upcoming dates, recent works published by students and an alumni spotlight. Visit to sign up for free! Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee students adjust to campus life in Knoxville Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
University of Tennessee 2025 enrollment breaks records. Here's how many students
School is back in session Aug. 18 for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and more students than ever are expected to be in attendance for another record-breaking semester for enrollment. UT announced Aug. 15 more than 40,000 students are enrolled for fall 2025, smashing last year's record of more than 36,000 students leading into the first day of class. The final fall 2025 will be shared after the 14th day of class. The popularity is due, in part, to the record-breaking 91.9% retention rate of first-year students, which the university "expects to meet or exceed," according to a UT news release. This semester's first year class is more than 7,100, selected from nearly 63,000 applications. "They come to us eager to experience our commitment to providing them with an unparalleled student experience, from the classroom to Neyland Stadium and everything in between," Provost John Zomchick said in the release. "Our new Volunteers start their collegiate journeys on a campus that has never looked better and has never been better prepared to help them become the next generation of innovators and leaders in service to their communities, states and country.' The university isn't too worried about the looming "enrollment cliff," in which the total population of 18-year-olds begins to decline over the next few years. In UT's favor, the percentage of Tennessee's high school graduates is projected to increase by 2041, and the university is prioritizing Tennesseans as it continues to aim for 41,000 students enrolled on campus in 2030 (plus 14,000 online). S is for Smokey! From Ayres to Zeanah, do you know your University of Tennessee ABCs? University of Tennessee enrollment by the numbers The number of first-year students joining UT for the fall 2025 semester is 7,100. All 95 Tennessee counties are represented, along with 46 states (plus Washington, D.C.) and 33 countries. UT reports 60% of the incoming class is from Tennessee. More than 14.5% of students in the first-year class are first-generation college students. UT received nearly 63,000 applications for the semester. In-state applicants increased by 5.1%. 94% of first-year students are receiving financial aid or some sort of scholarship. UT broke another record, with 5,300 transfer applictions for the fall semester. Of the more than 1,600 transfer students joining UT this semester, 1,100 are from within in the state. Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee breaks enrollment record with 40,000 Solve the daily Crossword