Home > Tennessee > Smith County

Smith County School District

126 S C M S Lane
Carthage, TN 37030-1879

( shown in map)

:

7/

10

Top 50%

Tel: (615) 735-9625

smithcoedu.com

For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public middle schools serving 1,594 students in Smith County School District. This district's average middle is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in Tennessee.

Public Middle Schools in Smith County School District have an score of 34% (versus the Tennessee public middle school average of 36%), and 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 40% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District

This State (TN)

# Schools

9 Schools

671 Schools

# Students

3,056 Students

314,306 Students

# Teachers

n/a

5 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

n/a

n/a

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Smith County School District	Tennessee
Pre-K	50	29
Kind	105	58
1	92	59
2	87	61
3	75	62
4	70	66
5	136	108
6	146	469
7	236	498
8	228	493
9	97	58
10	80	46
11	90	45
12	102	45

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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 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 86% has decreased from 94% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (TN)

#48 out of 147 school districts
(Top 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Smith County School District
2023	#48
2022	#45
2021	#56
2019	#45
2018	#24
2017	#30
2016	#72
2015	#68
2014	#45
2013	#36
2012	#42

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36%

34%

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	36%	34%
2022	33%	31%
2021	31%	28%
2019	44%	39%
2018	44%	35%
2017	46%	36%
2016	30%	17%
2015	57%	57%
2014	56%	52%
2013	60%	52%
2012	54%	49%

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40%

37%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2022	40%	37%
2021	30%	30%
2019	36%	35%
2018	44%	35%
2017	37%	35%
2016	28%	35%
2015	51%	51%
2014	55%	52%
2013	57%	52%
2012	56%	52%
2011	54%	50%

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43%

40%

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2022	43%	40%
2021	41%	38%

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86%

90%

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	86%	90%
2022	95%	90%
2021	94%	88%
2020	92%	89%
2019	93%	90%
2018	94%	89%
2017	92%	89%
2016	94%	88%
2015	92%	87%
2014	97%	86%
2013	93%	85%

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(2022-23)

12.6%

23.6%

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	12.6%	23.6%
2022	10.1%	23.8%
2021	8.4%	17.9%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.24

0.59

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	0.22	0.59
2022	0.21	0.58
2021	0.20	0.58
2020	0.17	0.56
2019	0.17	0.56
2018	0.15	0.55
2017	0.15	0.55
2016	0.14	0.54
2015	0.14	0.53
2014	0.15	0.52
2013	0.16	0.51
2012	0.16	0.50
2011	0.15	0.49
2010	0.12	0.48
2009	0.12	0.48
2008	0.11	0.47
2007	0.10	0.46
2006	0.09	0.45
1999	0.08	0.41
1998	0.07	0.39
1997	0.07	0.39
1996	0.06	0.39
1995	0.07	0.38
1994	0.07	0.38
1993	0.07	0.37
1992	0.07	0.36
1991	0.07	0.37
1990	0.07	0.36

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% American Indian

n/a

n/a

% Asian

1%

2%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	1%	2%
2022	1%	2%
2021	1%	2%
1999	1%	2%

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% Hispanic

6%

14%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2023)
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	5%	14%
2022	5%	13%
2021	4%	12%
2020	5%	11%
2019	5%	11%
2018	4%	10%
2017	4%	10%
2016	4%	9%
2015	4%	8%
2014	4%	8%
2013	4%	7%
2012	4%	7%
2011	3%	6%
2010	2%	6%
2009	2%	5%
2008	2%	5%
2007	2%	4%
2006	2%	4%
1999	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%

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% Black

1%

19%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	2%	21%
2022	2%	21%
2021	2%	22%
2020	2%	22%
2019	2%	22%
2018	2%	22%
2017	2%	22%
2016	2%	22%
2015	2%	22%
2014	3%	23%
2013	3%	23%
2012	3%	24%
2011	4%	24%
2010	4%	24%
2009	4%	25%
2008	4%	25%
2007	3%	25%
2006	3%	25%
1999	3%	24%
1998	3%	23%
1997	2%	24%
1996	3%	23%
1995	4%	23%
1994	4%	23%
1993	4%	23%
1992	4%	22%
1991	4%	23%
1990	3%	22%

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% White

87%

60%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	88%	59%
2022	89%	60%
2021	90%	60%
2020	91%	62%
2019	91%	62%
2018	92%	63%
2017	92%	63%
2016	93%	64%
2015	93%	65%
2014	92%	66%
2013	92%	66%
2012	92%	67%
2011	92%	67%
2010	94%	68%
2009	94%	68%
2008	94%	68%
2007	95%	69%
2006	95%	70%
1999	95%	73%
1998	96%	75%
1997	97%	74%
1996	97%	75%
1995	96%	75%
1994	96%	75%
1993	96%	76%
1992	96%	77%
1991	96%	76%
1990	97%	77%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

n/a

% Two or more races

5%

5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	4%	4%
2022	3%	4%
2021	3%	4%
2020	2%	3%
2019	2%	3%
2018	2%	2%
2017	2%	2%
2016	1%	2%
2015	1%	2%
2014	1%	1%
2013	1%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,169 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,076. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $9,647 is less than the state median of $11,570. 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

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

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Spending

$30 MM

$11,597 MM

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	$29 MM	$38 MM
2022	$30 MM	$36 MM
2021	$29 MM	$38 MM
2020	$30 MM	$36 MM
2019	$31 MM	$35 MM
2018	$27 MM	$34 MM
2017	$26 MM	$33 MM
2016	$26 MM	$32 MM
2015	$25 MM	$29 MM
2014	$27 MM	$33 MM
2012	$27 MM	$33 MM
2011	$25 MM	$31 MM
2010	$25 MM	$29 MM
2009	$25 MM	$28 MM
2008	$26 MM	$28 MM
2007	$23 MM	$27 MM
2006	$22 MM	$25 MM
2005	$21 MM	$24 MM
2004	$24 MM	$23 MM
2003	$29 MM	$22 MM
2002	$31 MM	$22 MM
2001	$16 MM	$21 MM
2000	$15 MM	$20 MM
1999	$13 MM	$18 MM
1998	$12 MM	$18 MM
1997	$11 MM	$17 MM
1996	$10 MM	$14 MM
1995	$10 MM	$14 MM

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Revenue / Student

$10,169

$12,076

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	$10,153	$12,207
2022	$9,612	$10,799
2021	$10,359	$12,446
2020	$9,612	$10,799
2019	$10,736	$10,461
2018	$9,055	$10,253
2017	$8,969	$9,828
2016	$8,795	$9,274
2015	$8,142	$8,707
2014	$8,343	$8,998
2012	$7,984	$9,214
2011	$7,587	$8,846
2010	$7,681	$8,707
2009	$7,361	$8,477
2008	$7,298	$8,215
2007	$6,329	$7,225
2006	$6,394	$6,967
2005	$6,134	$7,132
2004	$5,776	$6,890
2003	$5,595	$6,637
2002	$5,422	$6,218
2001	$5,273	$5,931
2000	$5,146	$5,582
1999	$4,627	$5,367
1998	$4,499	$5,303
1997	$4,117	$4,686
1995	$3,585	$4,088
1992	$2,740	$3,000

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Spending / Student

$9,647

$11,570

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Smith County School District	Tennessee
2023	$9,631	$11,923
2022	$9,557	$10,735
2021	$9,827	$12,157
2020	$9,557	$10,735
2019	$10,237	$10,381
2018	$8,712	$10,022
2017	$8,404	$9,561
2016	$8,005	$9,213
2015	$7,906	$8,563
2014	$8,484	$9,415
2012	$8,053	$9,298
2011	$7,444	$8,981
2010	$7,460	$8,563
2009	$7,400	$8,379
2008	$7,869	$8,219
2007	$6,494	$7,537
2006	$6,667	$7,070
2005	$6,551	$7,221
2004	$7,651	$7,095
2003	$9,312	$6,873
2002	$9,782	$6,596
2001	$5,180	$6,372
2000	$4,785	$5,764
1999	$4,178	$5,455
1998	$3,891	$5,332
1997	$3,766	$5,155
1995	$3,349	$4,364
1992	$2,807	$3,431

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Best Smith County School District Public Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Forks River Elementary School

(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
:

9/

10

Top 20%

Add to Compare

611 Cookeville Hwy
Elmwood, TN 38560
(615) 897-2676

Gr: PK-8 | 208 students Minority enrollment: 10%

Rank: #22.

Defeated Elementary School

(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
:

9/

10

Top 20%

Add to Compare

451 Defeated Creek Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 774-3150

Gr: PK-8 | 288 students Minority enrollment: 8%

Rank: #33.

Smith County Middle School

(Math: 33% | Reading: 38%)
:

7/

10

Top 50%

Add to Compare

134 Smith County Middle School
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-8277

Gr: 5-8 | 289 students Minority enrollment: 19%

Rank: #44.

Union Heights Elementary School

(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
:

5/

10

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

663 Lebanon Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-1975

Gr: PK-8 | 268 students Minority enrollment: 14%

Rank: #55.

Gordonsville High School

(Math: 24% | Reading: 35%)
:

5/

10

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

110 Main Street East
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8245

Gr: 7-12 | 541 students Minority enrollment: 8%

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 9 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 3,056 students
Minority Enrollment: 13%
: 86% (Btm 50% in TN)
: Top 50%
: 36% (Top 50%)
: 40% (Top 30%)
: 43% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TN Dept. of Education

Quick Links

School Search Tools:

School by Type (TN):

Private & Boarding Schools:

State Links:

Tennessee Dept. of Education

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