Smith County Schools & Education
Smith County, Tennessee
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,812
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,215
School Score
39/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 47/100
State Score Position
#70
of 95 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Smith County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 39/100, Smith County maintains a strong graduation rate of 92.0%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,812 per pupil, Smith 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 1.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Smith 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
9 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
39/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #70 of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
1.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,812
$403 below the state average
School coverage
9
1 district 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
Smith County has 9 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 Smith 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
Smith County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 9 of 9 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#70
of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data. The county score is 8 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.
Smith County
Elementary to high school visible
3,061 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Smith County is the largest listed district slice, with 9 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 Smith 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 Smith 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 Compact Rural Education Network
Smith County supports a small network of 9 public schools catering to 3,061 students. The system is comprised of six elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, all managed by a single local district. This compact structure serves a primarily rural population with centralized academic resources.
Single District Stability in Carthage
The Smith County district manages all 9 schools in the area, and there are currently no charter schools available. Gordonsville High School is the largest institution in the county with 540 students, followed closely by Smith County High School with 501. This small-scale district ensures that nearly every student is known by name within their school community.
Quiet Learning in a Rural Setting
The educational environment is almost entirely rural, with 7 schools in rural locales and 2 in town settings. An average school size of only 340 students creates a personalized, low-pressure atmosphere for learning. Even the largest primary school, Carthage Elementary, serves a modest 445 students, ensuring a manageable and familiar environment.
School Overview
Total Schools
9
in Smith County
Reported Enrollment
3,061
9 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Smith County
Smith County
9 Public Schools in Smith 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 9 of 9 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordonsville High School | Record | Smith County | Gordonsville, 38563Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 540 |
| Smith County High School | Record | Smith County | Carthage, 37030Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 501 |
| Carthage Elementary | Record | Smith County | Carthage, 37030Town: Distant | PK–4 | Primary | 445 |
| Smith County Middle School | Record | Smith County | Carthage, 37030Rural: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 327 |
| Gordonsville Elementary School | Record | Smith County | Gordonsville, 38563Rural: Distant | 3–6 | Primary | 326 |
| Defeated Elementary | Record | Smith County | Carthage, 37030Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 277 |
| New Middleton Elementary | Record | Smith County | Gordonsville, 38563Rural: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 227 |
| Union Heights Elementary | Record | Smith County | Carthage, 37030Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 216 |
| Forks River Elementary | Record | Smith County | Elmwood, 38560Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 202 |
Gordonsville Elementary School
Smith County
Gordonsville, 38563 / Rural: Distant
New Middleton Elementary
Smith County
Gordonsville, 38563 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,812
State avg $6,215
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Smith 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 Smith County?
What is the graduation rate in Smith County?
How much does Smith County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Smith County, Tennessee — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Smith County, Tennessee?
Smith County supports a small network of 9 public schools catering to 3,061 students. The system is comprised of six elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, all managed by a single local district. This compact structure serves a primarily rural population with centralized academic resources.
What are the major school districts in Smith County, Tennessee?
The Smith County district manages all 9 schools in the area, and there are currently no charter schools available. Gordonsville High School is the largest institution in the county with 540 students, followed closely by Smith County High School with 501. This small-scale district ensures that nearly every student is known by name within their school community.
What is the school experience like in Smith County?
The educational environment is almost entirely rural, with 7 schools in rural locales and 2 in town settings. An average school size of only 340 students creates a personalized, low-pressure atmosphere for learning. Even the largest primary school, Carthage Elementary, serves a modest 445 students, ensuring a manageable and familiar environment.
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.