Total enrollment
2,975
-528 (-15%) vs SY 2017-18
Grainger County
Tennessee · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Grainger County number 9, teaching approximately 2,975 Tennessee students against a population of 24,266. That works out to 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Grainger County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
+1 (+13%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
91%
was 92%
% Hispanic
7%
was 6%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
1 districts
Enrollment
2,975
NCES CCD
Median income
$50,538
Below Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
4
1,363 students
Middle
1
363 students
High
3
772 students
Combined / other
1
477 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Grainger County Public Schools
2,975 students · 1 district in Grainger County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Grainger County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
15.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.7%
civilian labor
Median age
47
18.8% under 18
Test scores in Grainger County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Rutledge Elementary School· 48.0%
- Joppa Elementary· 46.3%
- Grainger High School· 42.5%
- Bean Station Elementary· 42.1%
- Rutledge Middle School· 34.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Washburn School· 30.3%
- Rutledge Middle School· 34.5%
- Bean Station Elementary· 42.1%
- Grainger High School· 42.5%
- Joppa Elementary· 46.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grainger High School | Rutledge | High | 09-12 | 756 | · |
| Washburn School | Washburn | Combined | PK-12 | 477 | · |
| Bean Station Elementary | Bean Station | Elementary | PK-06 | 437 | · |
| Joppa Elementary | Rutledge | Elementary | PK-06 | 404 | · |
| Rutledge Middle School | Rutledge | Middle | 07-08 | 363 | · |
| Rutledge Elementary School | Rutledge | Elementary | 02-06 | 323 | · |
| Rutledge Primary | Rutledge | Elementary | PK-01 | 199 | · |
| Grainger Co Adult High | Rutledge | High | 09-12 | 10 | · |
| Grainger Academy | Rutledge | High | 09-12 | 6 | · |
Cities in Grainger County
About Grainger County
Across the thinly populated Tennessee county of Grainger County of about 24,266 residents, the public-school footprint covers 9 schools and about 2,975 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $50,538 a year, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 13%. That income level is 18% lower than the Tennessee median.
On the school-mix side, Grainger County consists of 4 elementary schools (1,363 students), 1 middle school (363), 3 high schools (772), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Grainger County is Grainger County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 2,975 students.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 15%: 3,503 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,975 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 8 to 9 across the same 7-year window.
On allk12, the community for Grainger County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Grainger County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data