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Downtown Camden TN 2012-07-27 016Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]) · CC BY 3.0
B−
Schools in Camden · Benton County School District

Camden’s public schools outscore 52% of Tennessee districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Camden, 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−#103of 176 Tennessee townsK–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
34%
▼ 3 pts vs TN 37%
2021–22
Math proficiency
33%
▲ 2 pts vs TN 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs TN 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.0K
▼ 8% vs TN $13.1K
FY2024
Schools in town
4
1,773 students on the public path
In brief

Camden’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 239 Tennessee towns with household incomes within a quarter of Camden’s, its schools beat 61%, higher than their 52% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 34% and math 33% 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 $11,970 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Briarwood School, then Camden Jr High School, then Camden Central High School. Enrollment is up 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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 Camden’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 52% of Tennessee school districts, #103 of 176 Tennessee towns. Both inputs trail the Tennessee average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Tennessee school districts we grade (147)Better than 52%
Lower resultsHigher results
Tennessee towns with similar household incomes (239)Better than 61%
CA−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 1,302 test results and a graduating class of 122 could put Camden anywhere from C to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Camden’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,339 in math, 1,265 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2Camden ElementaryBenton County School DistrictNo scores
3–5Briarwood SchoolBenton County School DistrictA−
6–8Camden Jr High SchoolBenton County School DistrictB
9–12Camden Central High SchoolBenton County School DistrictC+

Camden’s public schools are run by Benton County School District, which also serves Big Sandy. 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.

Benton County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,150 students, up 8% since 2020–21
$11,970TN $13,059 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading34%
State average 36.8% · 1265 students tested
Math33%
State average 31.1% · 1339 students tested

Camden vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CamdenB−Benton County

Every school in Camden

4 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 Camdenby address
Camden Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
442 studentsRate it →
Briarwood School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
A−
395 studentsRate it →
Camden Jr High School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
373 studentsRate it →
Camden Central High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
563 studentsRate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Benton County Academy and Senator Frank P. Lashlee Career and Technical Center).

Questions about Camden’s schools

Are Camden’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Tennessee: the public schools Camden children attend outscore 52% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #103 of 176 Tennessee towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 61%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Camden in?

Benton County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,150 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Camden kids go to high school?

Camden Central High School, with 563 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Camden’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Camden spend per student?

$11,970 in Benton County School District (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Camden families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Camden → 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.