Total enrollment
63,014
+2,077 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
Knox County
Tennessee · Public K-12
Knox County runs 103 public K-12 schools per the latest NCES counts, with an average school size of about 612 students. The level mix is 59 elementary, 19 middle, and 20 high schools.
7-year change in Knox County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
98
+8 (+9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
63%
was 70%
% Hispanic
15%
was 9%
% Black
14%
was 14%
% Asian
3%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
494,148
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
103
3 districts
Enrollment
63,014
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$74,222
Above Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
59
30,533 students
Middle
19
14,018 students
High
20
18,062 students
Combined / other
5
401 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Knox County Public Schools
60,185 students · 3 districts in Knox County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Knox 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+
41.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
37
20.9% under 18
Test scores in Knox County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 83 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- L N STEM Academy· 80.1%
- Sequoyah Elementary· 79.9%
- Farragut High School· 77.1%
- Northshore Elementary School· 74.5%
- Rocky Hill Elementary· 69.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCS Virtual Elementary School | Knoxville | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| KCS Virtual High School | Knoxville | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| KCS Virtual Middle School | Knoxville | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Knox County
About Knox County
Across the population-heavy Tennessee county of Knox County of about 494,148 residents, the public-school footprint covers 103 schools and about 63,014 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $74,222 a year, 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%. That income level is 21% noticeably above the Tennessee median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Knox County covers 59 elementary schools (30,533 students), 19 middle schools (14,018), 20 high schools (18,062), and 5 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Knox County is Knox County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 60,185 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 3%: 60,937 students in SY 2017-18 versus 63,014 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Knox County added 8 schools, going from 90 to 98. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 70% to 63%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Knox County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Knox County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data