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About RVES
Serving
the southwestern portion
of Roane County, Ridge View Elementary School is a modern facility
offering the
school population of approximately 790 kindergarten through fifth grade
students a wide range of educational avenues. The school was opened in
1964
serving grades one through six. In 1993, Ridge View Elementary was
renovated
and the sixth grade transferred to Rockwood Middle School.
Geographically,
Ridge View is located 1/3 mile east of Highways 27 and 70 and is
approximately
6 miles south of Interstate 40 in Rockwood, Tennessee. The region is
rural and
offers cultural and recreational opportunities in water sports on Watts
Bar
Lake and the Clinch River. Rockwood is within a short driving distance
of the
larger cities of Oak Ridge and Knoxville. Outdoor recreational areas
such as
the Big South Fork Recreational Area, Frozen Head State Park, and the
Great
Smoky Mountain National Park are within an 80-mile radius. The
communities
served by the school include rural mountainous areas, small farms, and
the town
of Rockwood (pop. 5,774, 2000 census).
The City of
Rockwood sprang
up
after the Civil War when a union officer, John T. Wilder, discovered an
abundance of iron ore on WaldenÕs Ridge. A trained
geologist,
Wilder took note
of the red clothing dye made locally from ore while in the area during
the war.
He later returned with northern industrialists to form the Roane Iron
Company
in 1868. Rockwood was a "company town", where the majority of the
population-enjoyed housing built by their employer and used currency
traded in
the company store. The city is named for the Roane Iron Company's first
president, William O. Rockwood, so chosen because of his less
controversial
status in the community by comparison to his colleagues, all of whom
had served
in the Union Army. The city's industrial base diversified after 1905
when
previous employees of the Roane Iron Company began manufacturing
textiles,
stoves, and dry goods. Through the years, different industries have
dominated
the employment base for the city.
The
population is socially and economically diverse.
The area has a
large number of low-income families. There are currently 384 federal
employees
who reside in Rockwood. Today there are several housing developments,
small
businesses, and one industrial park in the area. There is a changing
social
aspect and improving economic structure in the community.
The Roane County School System
consists of eight elementary schools, four middle schools and five high
schools. Of the eight elementary schools, Ridge View Elementary School
(RVES)
is among one of the largest. Enrollment patterns for the past three
academic
years show an increase as follows:
2001-2002
|
672
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2002-2003
|
693
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2003-2004
|
702
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2004-2005
|
703
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2005-2006
|
798
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