Knox County Schools & Education
Knox County, Tennessee
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
35/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
90.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,970
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,215
School Score
35/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 47/100
State Score Position
#79
of 95 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Knox County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 35/100, Knox County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.8%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,970 per pupil, Knox County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 26% below the Tennessee average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Knox 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
97 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
35/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #79 of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data.
Completion
90.8%
2.5 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,970
$245 below the state average
School coverage
97
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
Knox County has 97 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 Knox 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
Knox County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 93 of 97 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#79
of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data. The county score is 12 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.
Knox County
Elementary to high school visible
60,609 students
93 listed schools in this county slice.
Tennessee Schools for the Deaf
Elementary and high visible
117 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Knox County is the largest listed district slice, with 93 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 Knox County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Knox 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 Knox 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.
A Massive Urban and Suburban Infrastructure
Knox County boasts a sprawling educational system with 97 public schools serving a total of 63,828 students. The vast network includes 54 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, and 21 high schools. It is one of the state's most diverse systems, offering city, suburban, and rural learning environments.
Diverse Districts and Charter Presence
Knox County Schools is the primary district, managing 93 schools and over 60,000 students, including one charter school. The county also hosts the Tennessee Schools for the Deaf, which serves 144 students across three specialized campuses. This mix of large-scale public education and specialized institutions defines the local academic landscape.
From Urban Centers to Suburban Academies
The county features 54 city schools and 33 suburban schools, with an average school size of 672 students. Large institutions like Hardin Valley Academy and Farragut High School each serve over 2,000 students, creating a bustling, high-energy atmosphere. This variety ensures that families can find an environment that fits their child's specific social and academic needs.
School Overview
Total Schools
97
in Knox County
Reported Enrollment
63,828
97 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
1% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Knox County
Knox County
GuideTennessee Schools for the Deaf
97 Public Schools in Knox County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 25 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 97 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Virtual Academy | Profile | Union County | Knoxville, 37918City: Midsize | KG–6 | Virtual | 2,168 |
| Hardin Valley Academy | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37932Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,112 |
| Farragut High School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37922Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,096 |
| Bearden High School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37919City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,997 |
| West High School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37919City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,478 |
| Hardin Valley Elementary | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37932Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 1,415 |
| Karns High School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37931Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,394 |
| Powell High School | Profile | Knox County | Powell, 37849Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,347 |
| Farragut Middle School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37922Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,328 |
| Central High School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37918City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,294 |
| Halls High School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37938Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,265 |
| Cedar Bluff Elementary | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37923Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 1,226 |
| Karns Elementary | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37931Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 1,210 |
| Bearden Middle School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37909City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 1,187 |
| West Valley Middle School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37922Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,132 |
| Farragut Intermediate | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37922Suburb: Large | 3–5 | Primary | 1,110 |
| Northshore Elementary School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37922City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 1,099 |
| Halls Middle School | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37938Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,042 |
| Gibbs High School | Profile | Knox County | Corryton, 37721Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,040 |
| A L Lotts Elementary | Profile | Knox County | Knoxville, 37922Suburb: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 1,011 |
Tennessee Virtual Academy
Union County
Knoxville, 37918 / City: Midsize
Hardin Valley Academy
Knox County
Knoxville, 37932 / Suburb: Large
Farragut High School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37922 / Suburb: Large
Bearden High School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37919 / City: Midsize
West High School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37919 / City: Midsize
Hardin Valley Elementary
Knox County
Knoxville, 37932 / Suburb: Large
Karns High School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37931 / Suburb: Large
Powell High School
Knox County
Powell, 37849 / Suburb: Large
Farragut Middle School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37922 / Suburb: Large
Central High School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37918 / City: Midsize
Halls High School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37938 / Suburb: Large
Cedar Bluff Elementary
Knox County
Knoxville, 37923 / Suburb: Large
Karns Elementary
Knox County
Knoxville, 37931 / Suburb: Large
Bearden Middle School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37909 / City: Midsize
West Valley Middle School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37922 / Suburb: Large
Farragut Intermediate
Knox County
Knoxville, 37922 / Suburb: Large
Northshore Elementary School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37922 / City: Midsize
Halls Middle School
Knox County
Knoxville, 37938 / Suburb: Large
Gibbs High School
Knox County
Corryton, 37721 / Suburb: Large
A L Lotts Elementary
Knox County
Knoxville, 37922 / Suburb: Large
Additional School Profiles
Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,970
State avg $6,215
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Knox 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 Knox County?
What is the graduation rate in Knox County?
How much does Knox County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Knox County, Tennessee — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Knox County, Tennessee?
Knox County boasts a sprawling educational system with 97 public schools serving a total of 63,828 students. The vast network includes 54 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, and 21 high schools. It is one of the state's most diverse systems, offering city, suburban, and rural learning environments.
What are the major school districts in Knox County, Tennessee?
Knox County Schools is the primary district, managing 93 schools and over 60,000 students, including one charter school. The county also hosts the Tennessee Schools for the Deaf, which serves 144 students across three specialized campuses. This mix of large-scale public education and specialized institutions defines the local academic landscape.
What is the school experience like in Knox County?
The county features 54 city schools and 33 suburban schools, with an average school size of 672 students. Large institutions like Hardin Valley Academy and Farragut High School each serve over 2,000 students, creating a bustling, high-energy atmosphere. This variety ensures that families can find an environment that fits their child's specific social and academic needs.
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.