Chilhowee Middle School

Chilhowee Middle School operates as a compact intermediate school in Benton, Tennessee, overseen by Polk County. Current enrollment sits at 293 students spanning grades 6 through 8. That puts it 47% smaller than the typical public school in Tennessee, which averages around 554 students.

Polk County runs 7 schools in total, collectively educating 2,160 students. Chilhowee Middle School is one of those campuses.

Demographically, Chilhowee Middle School logs that nearly all students (95%) are White; the rest breaks down as 3% Hispanic.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for Polk County put median household earnings sit near $62,522, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 8%. Chilhowee Middle School is one of 7 public schools in Polk County (combined enrollment of about 2,160 students).

The closest other public school is Polk Innovative Learning Academy, roughly 0.1 miles away. 3 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The school occupies a low-density site.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Chilhowee Middle School has fell 25%, going from 389 students in 2018 to 293 in 2025.

On the community side, recent activity here tends to focus on enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.