Total enrollment
45,981
+1,159 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
Hamilton County
Tennessee · Public K-12
82 public K-12 schools, roughly 45,981 students, one county, 376,192 residents. That is Hamilton County, Tennessee on the numbers. The level mix is 42 elementary, 16 middle, and 22 high schools.
7-year change in Hamilton County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
82
+4 (+5%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
45%
was 54%
% Hispanic
22%
was 13%
% Black
24%
was 29%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
376,192
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
82
1 districts
Enrollment
45,981
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$76,183
Above Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
42
22,162 students
Middle
16
7,157 students
High
22
15,429 students
Combined / other
2
1,233 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Hamilton County Public Schools
45,981 students · 1 district in Hamilton County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Hamilton 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+
37.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
40
21.1% under 18
Test scores in Hamilton County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 79 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Hamilton County
About Hamilton County
Hamilton County is a wide-reaching county of about 376,192 residents in Tennessee. Its public-school system instructs approximately 45,981 students across 82 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $76,183, roughly 38% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 24% meaningfully above the Tennessee median.
For a sense of the school types, Hamilton County is made up of 42 elementary schools (22,162 students), 16 middle schools (7,157), 22 high schools (15,429), and 2 combined or other schools.
Hamilton County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 45,981 students across Hamilton County.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Hamilton County has climbed 3% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 44,822 students to 45,981. Over that span, Hamilton County gained 4 schools, going from 78 to 82. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 54% to 45% over the same window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Hamilton County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Hamilton County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data