Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Knoxville’s public schools outscore 66% of Tennessee districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Knoxville, 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 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.
Knoxville’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 236 Tennessee towns with household incomes within a quarter of Knoxville’s, its schools beat 75%, higher than their 66% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 40% and math 31% in spring 2022, against 37% and 31% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $12,234 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
25 elementary schools, then seven middle and eight high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Emerald Academy, Knoxville Preparatory, Christian Academy of Knoxville (private), Webb School of Knoxville (private), Sacred Heart Cathedral School (private), Rivers Edge Christian Academy (private), Berean Christian School (private), Apostolic Christian School (private), St. Joseph School (private), First Lutheran School (private), Garden Montessori School (private), Trinity Christian Academy (private), Knoxville Montessori School (private), Pride & Joy Children's Academy (private), Mead Montessori School (private), Cedar Springs Weekday School (private), Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School (private), University of Tennessee Early Learning Center (private), Peer Academy (private), Grace Covenant Baptist Academy (private), Knoxville Adventist School (private), Day Spring Christian Academy (private), Knoxville Baptist Christian School (private), New Pathways Academy (private) and West Hills Baptist Preschool & Kindergarten (private) are in town. Tennessee Virtual Academy and Tennessee Virtual Junior High School, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. 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 Knoxville’s grade
B+: better than 66% of Tennessee school districts, #64 of 176 Tennessee towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Tennessee average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Knoxville, with each school’s own grade.
Knoxville’s public schools are run by Knox County School District, which also serves Farragut. 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.
Above the state in reading
Knoxville vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Tennessee towns that share Knoxville’s borders.
Every school in Knoxville
75 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).
Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Tennessee School for the Deaf Middle School, Lincoln Park Technology and Trade Center and Montgomery Village Child Development Center Inc.).
Questions about Knoxville’s schools
Are Knoxville’s schools good?
By Tennessee’s own tests, yes: the public schools Knoxville children attend outscore 66% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #64 of 176 Tennessee towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 75%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Knoxville in?
Knox County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 60,185 students in 93 schools (2024–25).
Where do Knoxville kids go to high school?
One of 8 high schools, depending on your address: Bearden High School, West High School, Central High School, Fulton High School, Austin East High/Magnet, L N STEM Academy, Career Magnet Academy and Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy.
What is Knoxville’s graduation rate?
89% of the class of 2023 in Knox County School District graduated in four years, against 87% across Tennessee.
How much does Knoxville spend per student?
$12,234 in Knox County School District (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Knoxville?
Yes: Christian Academy of Knoxville (religious, grades PK–12, 1,089 students), Webb School of Knoxville (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 1,069 students), Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 659 students), Rivers Edge Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 636 students), Berean Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 477 students), Apostolic Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 282 students), St. Joseph School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 237 students), First Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 153 students), Garden Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 137 students), Trinity Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 130 students), Knoxville Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–11, 120 students), Pride & Joy Children's Academy (religious, grades PK–K, 91 students), Mead Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 83 students), Cedar Springs Weekday School (religious, grades PK–K, 72 students), Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School (religious, grades K–5, 55 students), University of Tennessee Early Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 48 students), Peer Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–10, 45 students), Grace Covenant Baptist Academy (religious, grades PK–5, 44 students), Knoxville Adventist School (religious, grades K–9, 36 students), Day Spring Christian Academy (religious, grades K–11, 33 students), Knoxville Baptist Christian School (religious, grades K–12, 31 students), New Pathways Academy (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades 8–12, 28 students) and West Hills Baptist Preschool & Kindergarten (religious, grades K, 13 students). Knoxville also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Knoxville families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Knoxville → 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.