Carter County Schools & Education
Carter County, Tennessee
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
89.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,716
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,215
School Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 47/100
State Score Position
#72
of 95 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Carter County
Measured School Summary
Carter County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 89.3%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,716 per pupil, Carter County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 18% below the Tennessee average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Carter County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
21 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
38/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #72 of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data.
Completion
89.3%
4.0 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,716
$501 above the state average
School coverage
21
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Carter County has 21 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Carter County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Carter County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 16 of 21 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#72
of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data. The county score is 9 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Carter County
Elementary to high school visible
4,764 students
16 listed schools in this county slice.
Elizabethton
Elementary to high school visible
2,738 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Carter County is the largest listed district slice, with 16 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Carter County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Carter County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Carter County, Tennessee
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Serving Thousands Across Two Major Districts
Carter County supports 7,502 students across 21 public schools, including 12 elementary and six high schools. Two main districts manage this network, which features an average school size of 357 students.
Investment and Results in East Tennessee
With an 89.3% graduation rate, the county exceeds national benchmarks but trails the Tennessee state average of 93.3%. Per-pupil expenditure sits at $6,716, which is higher than the state average but well below the national median of $13,000.
Spotlight on Carter County and Elizabethton
The Carter County district is the largest provider, serving 4,764 students across 16 schools. The Elizabethton district manages another five schools, including the county’s largest campus, Elizabethton High School, with 863 students.
A Suburb-Heavy Educational Landscape
Most schools in the county are located in suburban areas, providing a blend of neighborhood accessibility and larger student populations. The landscape ranges from Elizabethton High to smaller rural campuses, catering to various family preferences.
School Overview
Total Schools
21
in Carter County
Reported Enrollment
7,502
21 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Carter County
Carter County
GuideElizabethton
21 Public Schools in Carter County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 21 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethton High School | Record | Elizabethton | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 863 |
| T A Dugger Junior High School | Record | Elizabethton | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 633 |
| Hampton Elementary | Record | Carter County | Hampton, 37658Suburb: Midsize | PK–8 | Primary | 548 |
| Happy Valley Elementary | Record | Carter County | Johnson City, 37601Suburb: Midsize | PK–4 | Primary | 529 |
| East Side Elementary | Record | Elizabethton | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 491 |
| Happy Valley High School | Record | Carter County | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 446 |
| Hampton High School | Record | Carter County | Hampton, 37658Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 439 |
| Hunter Elementary | Record | Carter County | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | PK–8 | Primary | 433 |
| Harold McCormick Elementary | Record | Elizabethton | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | KG–5 | Primary | 380 |
| West Side Elementary | Record | Elizabethton | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | KG–5 | Primary | 371 |
| Happy Valley Middle School | Record | Carter County | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | 5–8 | Middle | 369 |
| Unaka High School | Record | Carter County | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 315 |
| Central Elementary | Record | Carter County | Johnson City, 37601Suburb: Midsize | PK–8 | Primary | 286 |
| Cloudland Elementary School | Record | Carter County | Roan Mountain, 37687Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 269 |
| Cloudland High School | Record | Carter County | Roan Mountain, 37687Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 248 |
| Keenburg Elementary | Record | Carter County | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | PK–8 | Primary | 212 |
| Unaka Elementary | Record | Carter County | Elizabethton, 37643Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 210 |
| Valley Forge Elementary | Record | Carter County | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 202 |
| Little Milligan | Record | Carter County | Butler, 37640Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 119 |
| Carter County Online Academy | Record | Carter County | Elizabethton, 37643Suburb: Midsize | 4–12 | Virtual | 99 |
T A Dugger Junior High School
Elizabethton
Elizabethton, 37643 / Suburb: Midsize
Happy Valley Elementary
Carter County
Johnson City, 37601 / Suburb: Midsize
Happy Valley High School
Carter County
Elizabethton, 37643 / Suburb: Midsize
Harold McCormick Elementary
Elizabethton
Elizabethton, 37643 / Suburb: Midsize
Happy Valley Middle School
Carter County
Elizabethton, 37643 / Suburb: Midsize
Cloudland Elementary School
Carter County
Roan Mountain, 37687 / Rural: Distant
Valley Forge Elementary
Carter County
Elizabethton, 37643 / Suburb: Midsize
Carter County Online Academy
Carter County
Elizabethton, 37643 / Suburb: Midsize
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,716
State avg $6,215
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Carter County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Tennessee counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Tennessee?
How should I read the school score in Carter County?
What is the graduation rate in Carter County?
How much does Carter County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Carter County, Tennessee — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Carter County, Tennessee?
Carter County supports 7,502 students across 21 public schools, including 12 elementary and six high schools. Two main districts manage this network, which features an average school size of 357 students.
How do schools in Carter County perform academically?
With an 89.3% graduation rate, the county exceeds national benchmarks but trails the Tennessee state average of 93.3%. Per-pupil expenditure sits at $6,716, which is higher than the state average but well below the national median of $13,000.
What are the major school districts in Carter County, Tennessee?
The Carter County district is the largest provider, serving 4,764 students across 16 schools. The Elizabethton district manages another five schools, including the county’s largest campus, Elizabethton High School, with 863 students.
What is the school experience like in Carter County?
Most schools in the county are located in suburban areas, providing a blend of neighborhood accessibility and larger student populations. The landscape ranges from Elizabethton High to smaller rural campuses, catering to various family preferences.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.