Smith County School District

126 S C M S Lane
Carthage, TN 37030-1879
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

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 9 public schools serving 3,033 students in Smith County School District. This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in Tennessee.
Public Schools in Smith County School District have an average math proficiency score of 33% (versus the Tennessee public school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 37% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 13% 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
9 Schools
1,925 Schools
# Students
3,033 Students
1,010,424 Students
# Teachers
214 Teachers
66,546 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

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.
This School District
State Average (TN)
#45 out of 147 school districts
(Top 50%)
33%
31%
40%
37%
43%
40%
≥95%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.24
0.61
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
6%
15%
% Black
1%
21%
% White
87%
57%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

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.
This School District
This State (TN)
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 Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Gordonsville Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
104 Main Street East
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8252
Grades: 3-6
| 312 students
Rank: #22.
Forks River Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
611 Cookeville Hwy
Elmwood, TN 38560
(615) 897-2676
Grades: PK-8
| 220 students
Rank: #33.
Defeated Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
451 Defeated Creek Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 774-3150
Grades: PK-8
| 260 students
Rank: #44.
Carthage Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
149 Skyline Dr
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-0433
Grades: PK-4
| 424 students
Rank: #55.
Smith County Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
134 Smith County Middle School
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-8277
Grades: 5-8
| 313 students
Rank: #66.
New Middleton Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
402 New Middleton Hwy
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8411
Grades: PK-2
| 237 students
Rank: #77.
Gordonsville High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
110 Main Street East
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8245
Grades: 7-12
| 532 students
Rank: #88.
Smith County High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
312 Fite Ave
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-9219
Grades: 9-12
| 493 students
Rank: #99.
Union Heights Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
663 Lebanon Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-1975
Grades: PK-8
| 242 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Smith County School District?
Smith County School District manages 9 public schools serving 3,033 students.
What is the rank of Smith County School District?
Smith County School District is ranked #44 out of 147 school districts in Tennessee (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Tennessee school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
What is the racial composition of students in Smith County School District?
87% of Smith County School District students are White, 6% of students are Hispanic, 5% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Smith County School District?
Smith County School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is lower than the Tennessee state average of 15:1.
What is Smith County School District's spending/student ratio?
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.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 9 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,033 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 13%
  • : ≥95% (Top 20% in TN)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 33% (Top 50%)
  • : 40% (Top 30%)
  • : 43% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TN Dept. of Education

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