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South-Carthage-70N-old53-tnPhoto: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
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Schools in South Carthage · Smith County School District

South Carthage’s public schools outscore 64% of Tennessee districts

The grade covers the public school district serving South Carthage, 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 100% 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
40%
▲ 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
$11.7K
▼ 11% vs TN $13.1K
FY2024
Schools in town
1
2,745 students on the public path
In brief

South Carthage’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 241 Tennessee towns with household incomes within a quarter of South Carthage’s, its schools beat 73%, higher than their 64% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 40% 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 $11,672 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Five elementary schools, then two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. 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 South Carthage’s grade

B+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 64% of Tennessee school districts. Test scores are above the Tennessee average; graduation is below it.

Tennessee school districts we grade (147)Better than 64%
Lower resultsHigher results
Tennessee towns with similar household incomes (241)Better than 73%
C+A−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 1,826 test results and a graduating class of 196 could put South Carthage anywhere from C+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of South Carthage’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,908 in math, 1,745 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–85 schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B

South Carthage’s public schools are run by Smith County School District, which also serves Carthage and Gordonsville. 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.

Smith County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 3,056 students, up 2% since 2020–21
$11,672TN $13,059 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading40%
State average 36.8% · 1745 students tested
Math33%
State average 31.1% · 1908 students tested

South Carthage vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
South CarthageBSmith County

Every school in South Carthage

8 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 South Carthageby address
Smith County Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Carthage
B−
289 studentsRate it →
Also serving South Carthagein other towns
Carthage Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Carthage
B+
465 studentsRate it →
Defeated Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Carthage
A−
288 studentsRate it →
Union Heights Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Carthage
C+
268 studentsRate it →
New Middleton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Gordonsville
210 studentsRate it →
Forks River Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Elmwood
B+
208 studentsRate it →
Gordonsville High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Gordonsville
C+
541 studentsRate it →
Smith County High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Carthage
B
476 studentsRate it →

Questions about South Carthage’s schools

Are South Carthage’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Tennessee: the public schools South Carthage children attend outscore 64% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 73%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is South Carthage in?

Smith County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,056 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do South Carthage kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Gordonsville High School and Smith County High School.

What is South Carthage’s graduation rate?

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

How much does South Carthage spend per student?

$11,672 in Smith County School District (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What South Carthage families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near South Carthage → 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.