Total enrollment
6,937
-365 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Jefferson County
Tennessee · Public K-12
Jefferson County runs 14 public K-12 schools per the latest NCES counts, with an average school size of about 496 students. By grade band, the county runs 9 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Jefferson County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
+2 (+18%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
80%
was 86%
% Hispanic
13%
was 9%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
56,864
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
14
1 districts
Enrollment
6,937
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$66,114
Above Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
9
3,788 students
Middle
2
1,110 students
High
3
2,039 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Jefferson County Public Schools
6,937 students · 1 district in Jefferson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Jefferson 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+
20.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.6%
civilian labor
Median age
44
19.2% under 18
Test scores in Jefferson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Jefferson Co High School· 53.8%
- New Market Elementary· 53.8%
- Talbott Elementary· 50.7%
- Dandridge Elementary· 48.4%
- Piedmont Elementary· 46.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Jefferson Middle School· 33.5%
- White Pine Elementary· 33.6%
- Rush Strong Elementary· 35.3%
- Maury Middle School· 40.6%
- Mount Horeb Elementary School· 44.9%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Co High School | Dandridge | High | 09-12 | 1,965 | · |
| White Pine Elementary | White Pine | Elementary | PK-08 | 705 | · |
| Mount Horeb Elementary School | Jefferson City | Elementary | PK-05 | 616 | · |
| Maury Middle School | Dandridge | Middle | 06-08 | 582 | · |
| Dandridge Elementary | Dandridge | Elementary | PK-05 | 543 | · |
| Jefferson Middle School | Jefferson City | Middle | 06-08 | 528 | · |
| Rush Strong Elementary | Strawberry Plains | Elementary | PK-08 | 518 | · |
| Jefferson Elementary | Jefferson City | Elementary | PK-05 | 467 | · |
| Piedmont Elementary | Dandridge | Elementary | PK-05 | 367 | · |
| Talbott Elementary | Talbott | Elementary | PK-05 | 300 | · |
| New Market Elementary | New Market | Elementary | PK-05 | 272 | · |
| Jefferson Virtual Academy | Strawberry Plains | High | 05-12 | 55 | · |
| Jefferson County Adult High School | Jefferson City | High | 11-12 | 19 | · |
| Dandridge Head Start | Jefferson City | Elementary | PK-PK | 0 | · |
Cities in Jefferson County
About Jefferson County
In Tennessee, Jefferson County is a low-population county of about 56,864 residents. 14 public schools across the county hosts about 6,937 students between them.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $66,114, about 21% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 8% noticeably above the Tennessee median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Jefferson County consists of 9 elementary schools (3,788 students), 2 middle schools (1,110), and 3 high schools (2,039).
Jefferson County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 6,937 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 5%: 7,302 students in SY 2017-18 versus 6,937 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 11 to 13 across the same 7-year window. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 86% to 80% over the same window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Jefferson County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Jefferson County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data