Polk County Schools & Education
Polk County, Tennessee
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
97.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
97.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,997
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,215
School Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 47/100
State Score Position
#29
of 95 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Polk County
Measured School Summary
Polk County performs at an average level with a school score of 55/100 and a solid graduation rate of 97.0%.
Funding Context
At $5,997 per pupil, Polk County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 18% above the Tennessee average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Polk 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
7 public schools and 1 district 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
55/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #29 of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data.
Completion
97.0%
3.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,997
$218 below the state average
School coverage
7
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Polk County has 7 public schools across 1 district, 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 Polk 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.
Small-system county
Polk County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#29
of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points above 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.
Polk County
Elementary to high school visible
2,148 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Polk County is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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 Polk County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Polk 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 Comprehensive Rural School Network
Polk County supports 2,148 students through a network of seven public schools. The system includes three elementary schools, one middle school, two high schools, and one specialized other facility. All education is provided through a single county-managed school district.
Traditional Education in a Single District
The Polk County school district serves all 2,148 students in the county without the presence of charter schools. This means 100% of public funding goes directly into the traditional school system. Families can expect a consistent curriculum across the different regions of the county.
Small Schools in a Rural Landscape
All seven schools in Polk County sit in rural locales, providing a scenic backdrop for learning. The average school size is 307 students, with Polk County High School being the largest at 443 students. Even the smallest middle school, Chilhowee, maintains a robust community feel with 322 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Polk County
Reported Enrollment
2,148
7 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Polk County
Polk County
7 Public Schools in Polk 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 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County High School | Record | Polk County | Benton, 37307Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 443 |
| Benton Elementary | Record | Polk County | Benton, 37307Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 370 |
| Copper Basin Elementary School | Record | Polk County | Copperhill, 37317Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 349 |
| South Polk Elementary | Record | Polk County | Ild Fort, 37362Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 331 |
| Chilhowee Middle School | Record | Polk County | Benton, 37307Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 322 |
| Copper Basin High School | Record | Polk County | Copperhill, 37317Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 265 |
| Polk Innovative Learning Academy | Record | Polk County | Benton, 37307Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Other | 68 |
Copper Basin Elementary School
Polk County
Copperhill, 37317 / Rural: Distant
Polk Innovative Learning Academy
Polk County
Benton, 37307 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,997
State avg $6,215
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Polk 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 Polk County?
What is the graduation rate in Polk County?
How much does Polk County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Polk County, Tennessee — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Polk County, Tennessee?
Polk County supports 2,148 students through a network of seven public schools. The system includes three elementary schools, one middle school, two high schools, and one specialized other facility. All education is provided through a single county-managed school district.
What are the major school districts in Polk County, Tennessee?
The Polk County school district serves all 2,148 students in the county without the presence of charter schools. This means 100% of public funding goes directly into the traditional school system. Families can expect a consistent curriculum across the different regions of the county.
What is the school experience like in Polk County?
All seven schools in Polk County sit in rural locales, providing a scenic backdrop for learning. The average school size is 307 students, with Polk County High School being the largest at 443 students. Even the smallest middle school, Chilhowee, maintains a robust community feel with 322 students.
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.