Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0Chattanooga’s public schools outscore 59% of Tennessee districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Chattanooga, 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.
From Tennessee state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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.
Chattanooga’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 37% and math 32% in spring 2022, against 37% and 31% statewide; 88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $16,443 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
22 elementary schools, then 12 middle and 12 high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence, Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence Middle, Chattanooga Preparatory School, Montessori Elementary at Highland Park, Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence High, Chatt Academy Community School, Chattanooga Christian School (private), Silverdale Baptist Academy (private), Boyd-Buchanan School (private), Baylor School (private), Grace Baptist Academy (private), Girls Preparatory School (private), Notre Dame High School (private), The Bright School (private), Brainerd Baptist School (private), St. Jude School (private), St. Peters Episcopal School (private), Montessori School (private), St. Nicholas School (private), Skyuka Hall (private), Skyuka Hall School (private), Hickory Valley Christian School (private), Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (private), Parkridge Valley Academy (private), Avondale Seventh Day Adventist School (private), Discovery Learners Academy (private), Orange Grove Center (private), Foundations Academy (private), Bethel Christian Academy (private), Marty's Center (private) and Scholze Adolescent Center (private) are in town. Hamilton County Virtual School, 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.
What’s behind Chattanooga’s grade
B: better than 59% of Tennessee school districts, #79 of 176 Tennessee towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Tennessee average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Chattanooga, with each school’s own grade.
Chattanooga’s public schools are run by Hamilton County School District, which also serves Collegedale, East Ridge, Lakesite and Lookout Mountain and others. 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.
Close to the state in reading
Chattanooga vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Tennessee towns that share Chattanooga’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | B | Hamilton County |
| East Ridge | B | Hamilton County |
| Lookout Mountain | B | Hamilton County |
| Collegedale | B | Hamilton County |
| Soddy-Daisy | B | Hamilton County |
| Signal Mountain | B | Hamilton County |
All 5 neighbors share Hamilton County with Chattanooga, so their letters differ mainly through other districts. Rossville, GA borders Chattanooga but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.
Every school in Chattanooga
73 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).
Questions about Chattanooga’s schools
Are Chattanooga’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Tennessee: the public schools Chattanooga children attend outscore 59% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #79 of 176 Tennessee towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 62%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Chattanooga in?
Hamilton County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 45,981 students in 82 schools (2024–25).
Where do Chattanooga kids go to high school?
One of 12 high schools, depending on your address: The Howard School, Ooltewah High School, Chattanooga School For The Liberal Arts, Hixson High School, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper, Brainerd High School, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts, Tyner Academy, Central High School, Lookout Valley Middle / High School, STEM School Chattanooga and Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State.
What is Chattanooga’s graduation rate?
88% of the class of 2023 in Hamilton County School District graduated in four years, against 87% across Tennessee.
How much does Chattanooga spend per student?
$16,443 in Hamilton County School District (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Chattanooga?
Yes: Chattanooga Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 1,478 students), Silverdale Baptist Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 1,340 students), Boyd-Buchanan School (religious, grades PK–12, 1,095 students), Baylor School (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 1,078 students), Grace Baptist Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 547 students), Girls Preparatory School (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades 6–12, 516 students), Notre Dame High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 392 students), The Bright School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 357 students), Brainerd Baptist School (religious, grades PK–5, 354 students), St. Jude School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 326 students), St. Peters Episcopal School (religious, grades PK–5, 234 students), Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 190 students), St. Nicholas School (religious, grades PK–5, 160 students), Skyuka Hall (special education, grades K–12, 118 students), Skyuka Hall School (special education, grades K–12, 118 students), Hickory Valley Christian School (religious, grades PK–5, 88 students), Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (religious, grades 9–12, 66 students), Parkridge Valley Academy (nonsectarian, grades 2–12, 56 students), Avondale Seventh Day Adventist School (religious, grades K–8, 51 students), Discovery Learners Academy (nonsectarian, grades , 50 students), Orange Grove Center (special education, grades 2–12, 38 students), Foundations Academy (religious, grades K–2, 37 students), Bethel Christian Academy (religious, grades 6–12, 28 students), Marty's Center (special education, grades PK–5, 15 students) and Scholze Adolescent Center (nonsectarian, grades 8–12, 14 students). Chattanooga also has 7 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Chattanooga families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Chattanooga → 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.