Top Rankings
Polk County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Tennessee for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,441 students in Polk County School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Tennessee.
Public Elementary Schools in Polk County School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Tennessee public elementary school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 36% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 5% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Tennessee public elementary school average of 43% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (TN)
# Schools
7 Schools
1,500 Schools
# Students
2,131 Students
719,411 Students
# Teachers
159 Teachers
48,388 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Polk County School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 147 school districts in Tennessee (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#71 out of 147 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
37%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
40%
Graduation Rate
87%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.09
0.61
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
2%
15%
% Black
1%
21%
% White
95%
57%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,594 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,979. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,043 is less than the state median of $11,478. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$25 MM
$12,104 MM
Spending
$24 MM
$11,597 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,594
$11,979
Spending / Student
$11,043
$11,478
Best Polk County School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Benton Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
215 Schoolhouse Hill Rd
Benton, TN 37307
(423) 299-0090
Benton, TN 37307
(423) 299-0090
Gr: PK-5 | 395 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #22.
South Polk Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
964 Old Federal Rd
Old Fort, TN 37362
(423) 338-4512
Old Fort, TN 37362
(423) 338-4512
Gr: PK-5 | 341 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #33.
Chilhowee Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
215 Schoolhouse Hill Rd
Benton, TN 37307
(423) 299-0086
Benton, TN 37307
(423) 299-0086
Gr: 6-8 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #44.
Copper Basin Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
206 Cougar Dr
Copperhill, TN 37317
(423) 496-3271
Copperhill, TN 37317
(423) 496-3271
Gr: PK-6 | 316 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #55.
Polk Innovative Learning Academy
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
131 Stephens St
Benton, TN 37307
(423) 299-0471
Benton, TN 37307
(423) 299-0471
Gr: K-12 | 97 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Recent Articles
2025 Classroom Size Trends: Are Classes Still Growing?
A 2025 update on U.S. classroom sizes, policy battles, student outcomes, and whether class sizes continue to expand.
Personalized Learning in 2025: Revolutionizing Education
Explore how personalized learning is reshaping education in 2025—insights, policy, impact, and real-world models for students, parents, and educators.
How Bullying Impacts Student Academic Performance in 2025
Explore how bullying harms student achievement, attendance, and well-being — and strategies schools use in 2025 to mitigate its effects.
