About Knoxville, Tennessee
Real Estate Guide

Snapshot shows how area school districts are faring

In his 2006 State of the State address, Gov. Phil Bredesen called education "our fundamental priority."

In 2005, Bredesen pushed through the Legislature an expanded pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds, and this year he is proposing to expand the voluntary program to serve more students.

The governor also hopes to create this year a competitive residential high school for math and science at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma.

Pushed by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Tennessee, like all states, is working to narrow the racial and economic achievement gap and to increase the number of students who graduate on time with a regular diploma.

The average high school graduation rate in 2004-05 was 77.9 percent in Tennessee.

"Here's my goal," Bredesen said in prepared remarks. "I want Tennessee in the next six years, by 2012, to achieve a 90 percent high school graduation rate, and a 55 percent college graduation rate."

Most high schools have a long way to go to reach that goal.

Here is a snapshot of 13 districts in East Tennessee, based on the state Department of Education's 2005 Report Card.

KNOX COUNTY
·  Number of schools: 88
·  Enrollment: 53,130
·  Percentage of low-income students: 40.7 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,846
·  High school graduation rate: 75.6 percent
·  Average ACT score: 21.6
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district fared the same as last year and the same as the state average, earning B's in math and reading/language and C's in social studies and science.

ANDERSON COUNTY
·  Number of schools: 17
·  Enrollment: 6,805
·  Percent of low-income students: 49.4 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,797
·  High school graduation rate: 75.5 percent
·  Average ACT score: 20.7
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned B's in math and reading/language and C's in social studies and science — the same as the state average.

Clinton
·  Number of schools: 3
·  Enrollment: 901
·  Percent of low-income students: 44 percent
·  Money spent per student: $7,384
·  High school graduation rate: n/a (no high schools in district)
·  Average ACT score: n/a
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned B's in math, reading/language, social studies and science. It outperformed the state average in social studies and science.

Oak Ridge
·  Number of schools: 8
·  Enrollment: 4,286
·  Percent of low-income students: 30.5 percent
·  Money spent per student: $9,238
·  High school graduation rate: 80.7 percent
·  Average ACT score: 24.2
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned A's in math, reading/language, social studies and science. It outperformed the state average in all subjects.

BLOUNT COUNTY

Alcoa
·  Number of schools: 3
·  Enrollment: 1,374
·  Percent of low-income students: 43.6 percent
·  Money spent per student: $8,705
·  High school graduation rate: 91.9 percent
·  Average ACT score: 21.8
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned an A grade in math and B's in reading/language, social studies and science. It outperformed the state average in three subjects and fared the same in reading/language.

Blount County
·  Number of schools: 19
·  Enrollment: 11,143
·  Percent of low-income students: 40.2 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,546
·  High school graduation rate: 77.9 percent
·  Average ACT score: 20.3
Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned B's in math and reading/language and C's in social studies and science. It fared the same as the state average in all subjects.

Maryville
·  Number of schools: 7
·  Enrollment: 4,595
·  Percent of low-income students: 22.7 percent
·  Money spent per student: $8,107
·  High school graduation rate: 93.8 percent
·  Average ACT score: 23.8
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned A's in math, reading/language, social studies and science. It outperformed the state average in all subjects.

JEFFERSON COUNTY
·  Number of schools: 10
·  Enrollment: 7,156
·  Percent of low-income students: 54.1 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,241
·  High school graduation rate: 94.9 percent
·  Average ACT score: 20.2
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned a B grade in math and C's in reading/language, social studies and science. It fared worse than the state average in reading/language and the same in the other subjects.

LOUDON COUNTY

Lenoir City
·  Number of schools: 3
·  Enrollment: 2,159
·  Percent of low-income students: 53.3 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,538
·  High school graduation rate: 91.9 percent
·  Average ACT score: 20.1
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned C's in math, reading/language, social studies and science. It fared worse than the state average in math and reading/language and the same in the other two subjects.

LOUDON COUNTY
·  Number of schools: 9
·  Enrollment: 4,925
·  Percent of low-income students: 45.7 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,384
·  High school graduation rate: 84.3 percent
·  Average ACT score: 19.6
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned B's in math, reading/language, social studies and science. It outperformed the state average in social studies and science.

ROANE COUNTY
·  Number of schools: 18
·  Enrollment: 7,351
·  Percent of low-income students: 49.9 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,833
·  High school graduation rate: 71.4 percent
·  Average ACT score: 20.4
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned B's in math, reading/language, social studies and science. It outperformed the state average in social studies and science.

SEVIER COUNTY
·  Number of schools: 24
·  Enrollment: 13,505
·  Percent of low-income students: 54.0 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,801
·  High school graduation rate: 87.7 percent
·  Average ACT score: 20.7
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned B's in math, reading/language, social studies and science. It fared better than the state average in social studies and science.

UNION COUNTY
·  Number of schools: 7
·  Enrollment: 3,128
·  Percent of low-income students: 66.3 percent
·  Money spent per student: $6,924
·  High school graduation rate: 78.3 percent
·  Average ACT score: 18.5
·  Academic achievement (K-8): The district earned C's in math, reading/language, social studies and science. It fared worse than the state average in math and reading/language and the same in social studies and science.