#1Lakeland
Shelby County · 14,422 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A− · #11 of 175 in TN
Lakeland, #1 on this list · Photo: Ben Evans · Public domainTennessee rankings · Schools
Towns with the best schools in Tennessee
Lakeland ranks first on schools among Tennessee’s 176 towns of 2,500+; 50 of the 176 grade A− or better (schools are graded within each state).
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). How grades work
#1A+
#T2Brentwood
Williamson County · 45,313 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A · #4 of 175 in TN
#T2Fairview
Williamson County · 10,877 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A− · #10 of 175 in TN
All 176 towns
Schools grade, best first (graded within Tennessee). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 94 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
176 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
T2Thompson's StationWilliamson County · 9,469 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A− · #13 of 175
T14Shackle Islandunincorporated, Sumner County · 4,404 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #24 of 175
T21Green Hillunincorporated, Wilson County · 6,866 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A− · #8 of 175
T30Christianaunincorporated, Rutherford County · 4,777 peopleAgraded within the state·Overall A · #3 of 175
T38Tellico Villageunincorporated, Loudon County · 7,414 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #30 of 175
T41Hopewellunincorporated, Bradley County · 2,634 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #44 of 175
T41South Clevelandunincorporated, Bradley County · 7,452 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #42 of 175
T41Wildwood Lakeunincorporated, Bradley County · 3,495 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C · #79 of 175
45Park Cityunincorporated, Lincoln County · 2,813 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall A− · #15 of 175
47Hartsville/Trousdale CountyTrousdale County · 12,623 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #52 of 175
T48Oak Groveunincorporated, Washington County · 4,626 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #62 of 175
T58Eagleton Villageunincorporated, Blount County · 5,598 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #50 of 175
T64Hallsunincorporated, Knox County · 10,272 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #28 of 175
T64Mascotunincorporated, Knox County · 3,277 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #49 of 175
T64Powellunincorporated, Knox County · 13,739 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #21 of 175
76Spurgeonunincorporated, Sullivan County · 4,071 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #53 of 175
T79Apisonunincorporated, Hamilton County · 4,271 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #32 of 175
T79Harrisonunincorporated, Hamilton County · 8,011 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A− · #19 of 175
T79Middle Valleyunincorporated, Hamilton County · 12,187 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #38 of 175
T79Sale Creekunincorporated, Hamilton County · 2,955 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #78 of 175
T93Strawberry Plainsunincorporated, Jefferson County · 2,669 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #25 of 175
98Seymourunincorporated, Blount County · 16,216 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #57 of 175
T114Fairfield Gladeunincorporated, Cumberland County · 9,487 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #88 of 175
T114Lake Tansiunincorporated, Cumberland County · 4,437 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #125 of 175
T122Bloomingdaleunincorporated, Sullivan County · 9,292 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #110 of 175
T122Blountvilleunincorporated, Sullivan County · 3,309 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C · #89 of 175
T122Colonial Heightsunincorporated, Sullivan County · 3,258 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #36 of 175
150Coalfieldunincorporated, Morgan County · 2,754 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #77 of 175
T152Sewanee College campusunincorporated, Franklin County · 2,936 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C+
Not ranked
1 town without a schools grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
- Nashville · 745,904 people
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Tennessee town has the best schools?
Lakeland (Shelby County) ranks first on schools among 176 towns, with an A+; Brentwood and Fairview follow. Schools are compared within Tennessee, so the letter is a state grade.
How are these towns ranked?
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a schools grade (176 in Tennessee). 1 town of 2,500+ lack the figures and is listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Tennessee page.
Go deeper
All Tennessee rankings →More Tennessee lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live175 towns · #1 NolensvilleBest small towns107 towns · #1 Signal MountainMost affordable towns177 towns · #1 Strawberry PlainsSafest towns129 towns · #1 NolensvilleHealthiest towns176 towns · #1 Oak HillBest towns for jobs & income177 towns · #1 Belle MeadeMost walkable towns177 towns · #1 KnoxvilleTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk177 towns · #1 TusculumBest towns for the outdoors177 towns · #1 Oak RidgeMost historic towns177 towns · #1 FayettevilleTowns with the most civic life150 towns · #1 TullahomaTowns with the least snow170 towns · #1 HendersonDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns170 towns · #1 MontereyDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters184 towns · #1 MemphisDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers184 towns · #1 Bartlett and 3 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers184 towns · #1 Mountain CityDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes177 towns · #1 Belle Meade and Forest HillsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes176 towns · #1 MosheimDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns146 towns · #1 LebanonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries19 towns · #1 GatlinburgDescribed, no letters
Other states