Total enrollment
3,056
-70 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
Smith County
Tennessee · Public K-12
Smith County in Tennessee is home to 9 public K-12 schools, serving roughly 3,056 students between them, broken out as 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high. Smith County Public Schools is the largest district by enrollment.
7-year change in Smith County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
87%
was 91%
% Hispanic
6%
was 4%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
1 districts
Enrollment
3,056
NCES CCD
Median income
$66,293
Above Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
6
1,750 students
Middle
1
289 students
High
2
1,017 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Smith County Public Schools
3,056 students · 1 district in Smith County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Smith 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+
18.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.7%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.4% under 18
Test scores in Smith County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Defeated Elementary· 56.4%
- Gordonsville Elementary School· 53.3%
- Smith County High School· 48.4%
- Gordonsville High School· 44.0%
- Forks River Elementary· 42.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Smith County Middle School· 32.2%
- Union Heights Elementary· 32.2%
- Carthage Elementary· 33.7%
- Forks River Elementary· 42.5%
- Gordonsville High School· 44.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordonsville High School | Gordonsville | High | 07-12 | 541 | · |
| Smith County High School | Carthage | High | 09-12 | 476 | · |
| Carthage Elementary | Carthage | Elementary | PK-04 | 465 | · |
| Gordonsville Elementary School | Gordonsville | Elementary | 03-06 | 311 | · |
| Smith County Middle School | Carthage | Middle | 05-08 | 289 | · |
| Defeated Elementary | Carthage | Elementary | PK-08 | 288 | · |
| Union Heights Elementary | Carthage | Elementary | PK-08 | 268 | · |
| New Middleton Elementary | Gordonsville | Elementary | PK-02 | 210 | · |
| Forks River Elementary | Elmwood | Elementary | PK-08 | 208 | · |
Cities in Smith County
About Smith County
Across the compact Tennessee county of Smith County of about 20,389 residents, the public-school footprint covers 9 schools and about 3,056 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $66,293, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 8% noticeably above the Tennessee median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Smith County spans 6 elementary schools (1,750 students), 1 middle school (289), and 2 high schools (1,017).
Smith County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,056 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,056 students, stayed largely flat from the 3,126 reported in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 91% to 87% over the same window.
On this page, the community for Smith County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Smith County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data