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Wiggins-House-Benton-tnPhoto: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
B
Schools in Benton · Polk County School District

Benton’s public schools outscore 57% of Tennessee districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Benton, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Tennessee, not nationally.

≈could be anywhere from C+ to A−K–12Where will my kid go?

From Tennessee state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
36%
▼ 1 pts vs TN 37%
2021–22
Math proficiency
34%
▲ 3 pts vs TN 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs TN 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.7K
▼ 3% vs TN $13.1K
FY2024
Schools in town
2
1,345 students on the public path
In brief

Benton’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 29 Tennessee towns with household incomes within a quarter of Benton’s, its schools beat 72%, higher than their 57% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 36% and math 34% in spring 2022, against 37% and 31% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,686 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Polk Innovative Learning Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Benton’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 57% of Tennessee school districts. Test scores are above the Tennessee average; graduation is below it.

Tennessee school districts we grade (147)Better than 57%
Lower resultsHigher results
Tennessee towns with similar household incomes (29)Better than 72%
C+A−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 1,280 test results and a graduating class of 160 could put Benton anywhere from C+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Benton’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,337 in math, 1,222 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Benton, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Benton ElementaryPolk County School DistrictA−
6–8Chilhowee Middle SchoolPolk County School DistrictB+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B

Benton’s public schools are run by Polk County School District, which also serves Copperhill and Ducktown. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Polk County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 2,160 students, down 1% since 2020–21
$12,686TN $13,059 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading36%
State average 36.8% · 1222 students tested
Math34%
State average 31.1% · 1337 students tested

Benton vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Tennessee towns that share Benton’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BentonBPolk County

Every school in Benton

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Tennessee’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bentonby address
Benton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
421 studentsRate it →
Chilhowee Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
293 studentsRate it →
Also serving Bentonin other towns
Copper Basin High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Copperhill
B
231 studentsRate it →
Polk County High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
400 studentsRate it →
Online schools based in Bentonnot counted as local schools
Polk Innovative Learning Academy
Grades K–12
C
Online
147 studentsRate it →

Questions about Benton’s schools

Are Benton’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Tennessee: the public schools Benton children attend outscore 57% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Benton in?

Polk County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,160 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do Benton kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Polk County High School and Copper Basin High School.

What is Benton’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Polk County School District graduated in four years, against 87% across Tennessee.

How much does Benton spend per student?

$12,686 in Polk County School District (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Benton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Benton → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Tennessee. Stars are from neighbors.