Total enrollment
2,160
-230 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
Polk County
Tennessee · Public K-12
For a Tennessee county, Polk County operates a compact public-school system: 7 schools and 2,160 students, broken out as 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high.
7-year change in Polk County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
7
+1 (+17%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
95%
was 96%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
1 districts
Enrollment
2,160
NCES CCD
Median income
$62,522
Above Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
3
1,089 students
Middle
1
293 students
High
2
631 students
Combined / other
1
147 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Polk County Public Schools
2,160 students · 1 district in Polk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Polk 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+
16.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
47
18.8% under 18
Test scores in Polk County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Polk County High School· 46.4%
- South Polk Elementary· 44.1%
- Copper Basin High School· 43.6%
- Benton Elementary· 40.8%
- Copper Basin Elementary School· 31.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Polk Innovative Learning Academy· 16.4%
- Chilhowee Middle School· 31.4%
- Copper Basin Elementary School· 31.8%
- Benton Elementary· 40.8%
- Copper Basin High School· 43.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Elementary | Benton | Elementary | PK-05 | 421 | · |
| Polk County High School | Benton | High | 09-12 | 400 | · |
| South Polk Elementary | Old Fort | Elementary | PK-05 | 347 | · |
| Copper Basin Elementary School | Copperhill | Elementary | PK-06 | 321 | · |
| Chilhowee Middle School | Benton | Middle | 06-08 | 293 | · |
| Copper Basin High School | Copperhill | High | 07-12 | 231 | · |
| Polk Innovative Learning Academy | Benton | Combined | KG-12 | 147 | · |
Cities in Polk County
About Polk County
Polk County is a low-population county of about 17,898 residents in Tennessee. Its public-school system instructs approximately 2,160 students across 7 schools.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $62,522, 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 8%.
For a sense of the school types, Polk County is made up of 3 elementary schools (1,089 students), 1 middle school (293), 2 high schools (631), and 1 combined or other schools.
Polk County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,160 students across Polk County.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Polk County has declined 10% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 2,390 students to 2,160. The school count climbed from 6 to 7 across the same 7-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Polk County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data