Top Rankings
Smith County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Tennessee for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 7 public elementary schools serving 2,008 students in Smith County School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in Tennessee.
Public Elementary Schools in Smith County School District have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the Tennessee public elementary school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 36% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 13% 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
9 Schools
1,500 Schools
# Students
3,033 Students
719,413 Students
# Teachers
214 Teachers
48,388 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Smith County School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 147 school districts in Tennessee (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has increased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#45 out of 147 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
31%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
37%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
40%

Graduation Rate
≥95%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.24
0.61
# American Indian Students
4 Students
1,225 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
19 Students
15,029 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%
# Hispanic Students
171 Students
106,507 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
15%
# Black Students
48 Students
149,772 Students
% Black Students
1%
21%
# White Students
2,640 Students
410,765 Students
% White Students
87%
57%
# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
856 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
150 Students
35,256 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
125
29,574
# Students in K Grade:
219
74,511
# Students in 1st Grade:
244
76,014
# Students in 2nd Grade:
226
77,971
# Students in 3rd Grade:
216
74,743
# Students in 4th Grade:
233
75,052
# Students in 5th Grade:
210
75,941
# Students in 6th Grade:
238
75,064
# Students in 7th Grade:
226
70,062
# Students in 8th Grade:
244
69,763
# Students in 9th Grade:
208
5,469
# Students in 10th Grade:
213
5,392
# Students in 11th Grade:
221
4,910
# Students in 12th Grade:
210
4,947
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,246 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 $9,720 is less than the state median of $11,478. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$31 MM
$12,104 MM

Spending
$30 MM
$11,597 MM

Revenue / Student
$10,246
$11,979

Spending / Student
$9,720
$11,478

Best Smith County School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Gordonsville Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
104 Main Street East
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8252
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8252
Grades: 3-6
| 312 students
Rank: #22.
Forks River Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
611 Cookeville Hwy
Elmwood, TN 38560
(615) 897-2676
Elmwood, TN 38560
(615) 897-2676
Grades: PK-8
| 220 students
Rank: #33.
Defeated Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
451 Defeated Creek Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 774-3150
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 774-3150
Grades: PK-8
| 260 students
Rank: #44.
Carthage Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
149 Skyline Dr
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-0433
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-0433
Grades: PK-4
| 424 students
Rank: #55.
Smith County Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
134 Smith County Middle School
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-8277
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-8277
Grades: 5-8
| 313 students
Rank: #66.
New Middleton Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34% )
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
402 New Middleton Hwy
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8411
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8411
Grades: PK-2
| 237 students
Rank: #77.
Union Heights Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
663 Lebanon Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-1975
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-1975
Grades: PK-8
| 242 students
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