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 5 public middle schools serving 1,567 students in Smith County School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public middle schools in Tennessee.
Public Middle Schools in Smith County School District have an average math proficiency score of 33% (versus the Tennessee public middle school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 38% (versus the 34% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 11% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Tennessee public middle school average of 39% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (TN)
# Schools
9 Schools
672 Schools
# Students
3,033 Students
315,543 Students
# Teachers
214 Teachers
21,238 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.
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
0.58
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
6%
14%
% Black
1%
19%
% White
87%
61%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
4%
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.
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 Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
Gordonsville High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
110 Main Street East
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8245
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8245
Grades: 7-12
| 532 students
Rank: #55.
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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