Jefferson County

The schools in Jefferson County, Tennessee serve a diverse population of students from elementary to high school, with a mix of 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school, and 1 alternative school. While the district has several standout performers, there are also significant disparities in academic achievement across the schools.

The top-performing schools in the district are Talbott Elementary, Dandridge Elementary, and Maury Middle School, all of which consistently score above the county and state averages on standardized tests and have 4-star ratings. In contrast, some schools like Rush Strong Elementary and Jefferson Virtual Academy struggle with lower proficiency rates, particularly in math.

The student population across the district is predominantly white, ranging from 68.97% to 90.83% white students, with Hispanic students making up the next largest racial group. Per-student spending varies widely, from $8,443 at Jefferson Middle School to $11,672 at Jefferson Elementary, but this does not appear to be directly correlated with academic performance. Overall, the data suggests opportunities for the Jefferson County district to learn from its highest-performing schools and work to raise the bar for all students.