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Dekalb County School District

Item: Dekalb County School District
Rating: 4
Author: Public School Review

110 South Public Square
Smithville, TN 37166-1728

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (615) 597-4084

www.dekalbschools.net

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 7 public schools serving 3,644 students in Dekalb County School District. This district's average is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Tennessee.

Public Schools in Dekalb County School District have an score of 25% (versus the Tennessee public school average of 34%), and score of 32% (versus the 37% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Tennessee public school average of 43% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District

This State (TN)

# Schools

7 Schools

1,907 Schools

# Students

3,644 Students

1,000,990 Students

# Teachers

n/a

6 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

n/a

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
Pre-K	92	222
Kind	242	481
1	203	499
2	198	500
3	214	518
4	239	493
5	212	495
6	233	500
7	222	497
8	224	493
9	232	505
10	180	498
11	188	487
12	965	487

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District Rank

Dekalb County School District, which is ranked within the bottom 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 90-94% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (TN)

#101 out of 147 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District
2023	#101
2022	#108
2021	#117
2019	#101
2018	#70
2017	#90
2016	#121
2015	#85
2014	#94
2013	#95
2012	#79

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25%

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	25%	34%
2022	21%	31%
2021	17%	28%
2019	33%	39%
2018	33%	35%
2017	32%	36%
2016	9%	17%
2015	54%	57%
2014	48%	52%
2013	45%	52%
2012	45%	49%

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32%

37%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2022	32%	37%
2021	23%	30%
2019	30%	35%
2018	33%	35%
2017	30%	35%
2016	28%	35%
2015	50%	51%
2014	49%	52%
2013	51%	52%
2012	53%	52%
2011	53%	50%

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26%

40%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2022	26%	40%
2021	29%	38%

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87%

87.3%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	87%	87%
2022	92%	90%
2021	82%	88%
2020	92%	89%
2019	92%	90%
2018	92%	89%
2017	95%	89%
2016	95%	88%
2015	95%	87%
2014	95%	86%
2013	95%	85%

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(2022-23)

22.2%

23.6%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	22.2%	23.6%
2022	41.2%	23.8%
2021	15.9%	17.9%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.39

0.62

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	0.35	0.59
2022	0.32	0.58
2021	0.32	0.58
2020	0.31	0.56
2019	0.31	0.56
2018	0.27	0.55
2017	0.27	0.55
2016	0.25	0.54
2015	0.30	0.53
2014	0.22	0.52
2013	0.22	0.51
2012	0.22	0.50
2011	0.20	0.49
2010	0.19	0.48
2009	0.19	0.48
2008	0.18	0.47
2007	0.17	0.46
2006	0.12	0.45
1999	0.07	0.41
1998	0.06	0.39
1997	0.06	0.39
1996	0.05	0.39
1995	0.04	0.38
1994	0.04	0.38
1993	0.06	0.37
1992	0.05	0.36
1991	0.05	0.37
1990	0.05	0.36

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (2009-2012)
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2012	2%	2%
2010	1%	2%
2009	1%	2%

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% Hispanic

13%

16%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1997-2023)
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	16%	14%
2022	15%	13%
2021	16%	12%
2020	14%	11%
2019	14%	11%
2018	14%	10%
2017	14%	10%
2016	13%	9%
2015	10%	8%
2014	11%	8%
2013	10%	7%
2012	9%	7%
2011	9%	6%
2010	8%	6%
2009	8%	5%
2008	8%	5%
2007	8%	4%
2006	5%	4%
1999	2%	1%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%

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% Black

20%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1990-2023)
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	2%	21%
2022	2%	21%
2021	1%	22%
2020	2%	22%
2019	2%	22%
2018	2%	22%
2017	2%	22%
2016	1%	22%
2015	3%	22%
2014	1%	23%
2013	1%	23%
2012	1%	24%
2011	2%	24%
2010	1%	24%
2009	2%	25%
2008	2%	25%
2007	1%	25%
2006	1%	25%
1999	2%	24%
1998	2%	23%
1997	2%	24%
1996	2%	23%
1995	1%	23%
1994	2%	23%
1993	3%	23%
1992	2%	22%
1991	2%	23%
1990	2%	22%

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% White

77%

57%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison (1990-2023)
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	79%	59%
2022	81%	60%
2021	81%	60%
2020	82%	62%
2019	82%	62%
2018	84%	63%
2017	84%	63%
2016	86%	64%
2015	72%	65%
2014	88%	66%
2013	88%	66%
2012	88%	67%
2011	89%	67%
2010	90%	68%
2009	89%	68%
2008	90%	68%
2007	91%	69%
2006	94%	70%
1999	96%	73%
1998	97%	75%
1997	97%	74%
1996	97%	75%
1995	98%	75%
1994	97%	75%
1993	97%	76%
1992	98%	77%
1991	98%	76%
1990	98%	77%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2013-2023)
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	3%	4%
2022	2%	4%
2021	2%	4%
2020	2%	3%
2019	2%	3%
2013	1%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $8,253 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,092. The school district revenue/student has declined by 22% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $7,957 is less than the state median of $11,586. The school district spending/student has declined by 23% over four school years.

This School District

This State (TN)

Total Revenue

$30 MM

$12,104 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	$35 MM	$47 MM
2022	$31 MM	$44 MM
2021	$30 MM	$39 MM
2020	$28 MM	$36 MM
2019	$28 MM	$35 MM
2018	$27 MM	$35 MM
2017	$27 MM	$34 MM
2016	$25 MM	$33 MM
2015	$22 MM	$30 MM
2014	$25 MM	$32 MM
2012	$24 MM	$32 MM
2011	$23 MM	$30 MM
2010	$22 MM	$30 MM
2009	$21 MM	$28 MM
2008	$21 MM	$28 MM
2007	$20 MM	$26 MM
2006	$18 MM	$25 MM
2005	$17 MM	$24 MM
2004	$17 MM	$23 MM
2003	$15 MM	$21 MM
2002	$14 MM	$20 MM
2001	$14 MM	$20 MM
2000	$13 MM	$19 MM
1999	$13 MM	$18 MM
1998	$12 MM	$18 MM
1997	$11 MM	$16 MM
1996	$10 MM	$15 MM
1995	$10 MM	$13 MM

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Spending

$29 MM

$11,597 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	$36 MM	$45 MM
2022	$30 MM	$40 MM
2021	$29 MM	$38 MM
2020	$27 MM	$36 MM
2019	$26 MM	$35 MM
2018	$25 MM	$34 MM
2017	$24 MM	$33 MM
2016	$25 MM	$32 MM
2015	$22 MM	$29 MM
2014	$30 MM	$33 MM
2012	$23 MM	$33 MM
2011	$22 MM	$31 MM
2010	$22 MM	$29 MM
2009	$21 MM	$28 MM
2008	$20 MM	$28 MM
2007	$19 MM	$27 MM
2006	$18 MM	$25 MM
2005	$18 MM	$24 MM
2004	$18 MM	$23 MM
2003	$15 MM	$22 MM
2002	$15 MM	$22 MM
2001	$15 MM	$21 MM
2000	$18 MM	$20 MM
1999	$13 MM	$18 MM
1998	$11 MM	$18 MM
1997	$11 MM	$17 MM
1996	$10 MM	$14 MM
1995	$9 MM	$14 MM

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Revenue / Student

$8,253

$12,092

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	$11,794	$14,753
2022	$10,656	$14,033
2021	$10,285	$12,446
2020	$9,547	$10,799
2019	$9,344	$10,461
2018	$8,896	$10,253
2017	$8,897	$9,828
2016	$8,325	$9,274
2015	$7,409	$8,707
2014	$8,388	$8,998
2012	$7,989	$9,214
2011	$7,543	$8,846
2010	$7,572	$8,707
2009	$7,109	$8,477
2008	$8,871	$8,215
2007	$6,783	$7,225
2006	$6,576	$6,967
2005	$6,170	$7,132
2004	$6,458	$6,890
2003	$5,807	$6,637
2002	$5,543	$6,218
2001	$6,498	$5,931
2000	$4,894	$5,582
1999	$4,769	$5,367
1998	$4,598	$5,303
1997	$4,056	$4,686
1995	$3,631	$4,088
1992	$3,011	$3,000

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Spending / Student

$7,957

$11,586

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Dekalb County School District	Tennessee
2023	$12,093	$14,134
2022	$10,335	$12,816
2021	$9,916	$12,157
2020	$9,016	$10,735
2019	$8,819	$10,381
2018	$8,233	$10,022
2017	$8,044	$9,561
2016	$8,236	$9,213
2015	$7,335	$8,563
2014	$10,032	$9,415
2012	$7,750	$9,298
2011	$7,251	$8,981
2010	$7,496	$8,563
2009	$7,188	$8,379
2008	$8,660	$8,219
2007	$6,585	$7,537
2006	$6,655	$7,070
2005	$6,658	$7,221
2004	$7,154	$7,095
2003	$5,922	$6,873
2002	$5,713	$6,596
2001	$6,884	$6,372
2000	$6,659	$5,764
1999	$4,744	$5,455
1998	$4,073	$5,332
1997	$3,958	$5,155
1995	$3,337	$4,364
1992	$3,012	$3,431

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Best Dekalb County School District Public Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Dekalb West Elementary School

(Math: 41% | Reading: 43%)
:

Top 30%

Add to Compare

101 Bulldog Ln
Dowelltown, TN 37059
(615) 536-5332

Gr: PK-8 | 466 students Minority enrollment: 11%

Rank: #22.

De Kalb County High School

(Math: 18% | Reading: 45%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

1130 West Broad St
Smithville, TN 37166
(615) 597-4094

Gr: 9-12 | 781 students Minority enrollment: 24%

Rank: #33.

Northside Elementary School

(Math: 26% | Reading: 26%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

400 North Congress Blvd
Smithville, TN 37166
(615) 597-1575

Gr: 2-5 | 544 students Minority enrollment: 25%

Rank: #44.

Dekalb Middle School

(Math: 23% | Reading: 23%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

1132 West Broad St
Smithville, TN 37166
(615) 597-7987

Gr: 6-8 | 534 students Minority enrollment: 29%

Rank: n/an/a

De Kalb County Adult High School

Add to Compare

242 Tiger Dr
Smithville, TN 37166
(615) 497-2254

Gr: 10-12

Rank: n/an/a

Dekalb County Schools Adult Education Virtual School

Add to Compare

110 South Public Square
Smithville, TN 37166
(615) 597-4084

Gr: 9-12 | 784 students Minority enrollment: 26%

Rank: n/an/a

Smithville Elementary School

Add to Compare

221 E Bryant St
Smithville, TN 37166
(615) 597-4415

Gr: PK-2 | 535 students Minority enrollment: 22%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Dekalb County School District?

Dekalb County School District manages 7 public schools serving 3,644 students.

What is the rank of Dekalb County School District?

Dekalb County School District is ranked #104 out of 147 school districts in Tennessee (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year.

What is the racial composition of students in Dekalb County School District?

77% of Dekalb County School District students are White, 13% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Black, and 3% of students are Two or more races.

What is Dekalb County School District's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $7,957 is less than the state median of $11,586. The school district spending/student has declined by 23% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026-27)

District size: 7 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 3,644 students
Minority Enrollment: 23%
: 87% (Top 50% in TN)
: Bottom 50%
: 25% (Btm 50%)
: 32% (Btm 50%)
: 26% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TN Dept. of Education