Carter High School

Summary:

Carter High School is a public high school located in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, serving 769 students in grades 9-12 and part of the Knox County school district.

While Carter High School outperforms the Knox County and Tennessee averages in several subject areas, particularly in Biology I and Algebra II, the school has seen a steady decline in its statewide ranking over the past several years. This is concerning, as the school's performance varies significantly between male and female students, with male students ranking 175 out of 348 Tennessee high schools, while female students rank 211 out of 346. Additionally, the school's high percentage of low-socioeconomic status students likely plays a significant role in its overall outcomes. When compared to nearby schools, Carter High School's performance is mixed, outperforming some schools like Fulton High School and Austin East High/Magnet, but lagging behind others, such as Gibbs High School and Career Magnet Academy, in various subject areas and overall rankings.

One of the school's strengths is the performance of its special education students, who rank 48 out of 154 Tennessee high schools with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. However, the school's racial makeup, with a significantly higher percentage of white students compared to the surrounding area, is an interesting point of comparison that may impact various educational outcomes. Addressing the unique challenges faced by the school's low-socioeconomic status population and learning from the successes of nearby high-performing schools could be crucial in improving Carter High School's overall educational outcomes.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 210 N Carter School RD
       Strawberry Plains, TN  37871


(865) 933-3434

District: Knox County

SchoolDigger Rank:
238th of 392 Tennessee High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,907 Help


Feeder schools for Carter High School:

Elementary:    Carter Elementary
    Chilhowee Intermediate
    East Knox Elementary
    Sunnyview Primary
Middle:    Carter Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.9 Help
Number of students:  794

Racial breakdown:

White:
81.1%
Hispanic:
7.1%
African American:
6.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  55% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Carter High School ranks worse than 60.7% of high schools in Tennessee. It also ranks 12th among 16 ranked high schools in the Knox County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.52. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Carter High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (81.1%), Hispanic (7.1%), African American (6.8%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Carter High School is 14.9, which is the 7th best among 16 high schools in the Knox County School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Carter High School employs 53 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Carter High School is $11,907, which is the 6th highest among 16 high schools in the Knox County School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Carter High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Carter High School 238th of 392 Tennessee public high schools. (See Carter High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Knox County:

SchoolDigger ranks Knox County 80th of 140 Tennessee school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Carter High School.

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Rank History for Carter High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Carter High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 61.80 109th 267 59.2%
2011 51.80 164th 273 39.9%
2012 51.05 163rd 269 39.4%
2013 54.14 149th 285 47.7%
2014 50.08 156th 296 47.3%
2015 69.59 71st 300 76.3%
2016 44.77 192nd 351 45.3%
2017 53.93 106th 273 61.2%
2018 31.19 249th 341 27.0%
2019 32.16 242nd 342 29.2%
2021 38.35 212th 347 38.9%
2022 29.43 261st 358 27.1%
2023 34.85 249th 384 35.2%
2024 36.52 238th 392 39.3%
See the entire list of Tennessee High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Carter High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.43 59th 159 62.9%
2019 42.32 71st 127 44.1%
2021 34.27 78th 125 37.6%
2022 34.40 103rd 151 31.8%
2023 49.71 48th 154 68.8%
2024 25.22 146th 183 20.2%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Carter High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.86 142nd 308 53.9%
2019 30.56 220th 302 27.2%
2021 22.56 264th 317 16.7%
2022 34.75 209th 322 35.1%
2023 36.44 213th 330 35.5%
2024 32.73 237th 337 29.7%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Carter High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 30.60 253rd 337 24.9%
2021 33.90 228th 340 32.9%
2022 31.12 255th 350 27.1%
2023 34.98 241st 366 34.2%
2024 37.17 233rd 365 36.2%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Carter High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 36.21 205th 329 37.7%
2021 40.40 189th 332 43.1%
2022 26.50 264th 349 24.4%
2023 30.90 246th 359 31.5%
2024 35.53 233rd 366 36.3%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Carter High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.56 112th 199 43.7%
2019 28.89 140th 187 25.1%
2021 21.33 176th 208 15.4%
2022 32.43 148th 222 33.3%
2023 22.43 192nd 239 19.7%
2024 28.61 162nd 240 32.5%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Carter High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 29.66 162nd 209 22.5%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Carter High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.71 267th 307 13.0%
2019 25.66 255th 301 15.3%
2021 32.37 222nd 306 27.5%
2022 20.46 278th 312 10.9%
2023 28.50 254th 325 21.8%
2024 29.85 244th 326 25.2%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Tennessee Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Carter High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 







Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, November 30, 2009

Open Quote I have had two daughters to graduate from Carter High. I have a daughter there now. This is one of the best schools I have found in Knox County. Cheryl Hickman really knows what she is doing. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Carter High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1066 23 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1092
1989 1007 20 5 1 n/a n/a n/a 0 1033
1990 1012 21 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1038
1991 936 20 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 959
1992 1049 22 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1074
1993 936 147 4 1 0 n/a n/a 0 1088
1994 881 115 6 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1002
1995 912 145 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 1059
1996 912 145 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 1059
1997 906 138 0 1 0 n/a n/a -48 997
1998 835 126 14 7 2 n/a n/a 1 985
1999 826 101 3 3 0 n/a n/a -1 932
2000 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 929 929
2001 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 938 938
2002 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1000 1000
2003 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1000 1000
2004 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 908 908
2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 954 954
2006 829 120 6 5 3 n/a n/a 0 963
2007 941 137 5 6 3 n/a n/a 0 1092
2008 888 112 5 12 4 n/a n/a 0 1021
2009 896 91 7 17 4 n/a n/a 0 1015
2010 860 74 5 15 3 n/a n/a 0 957
2011 841 72 3 12 1 1 3 0 933
2012 836 58 2 13 1 1 2 0 913
2013 831 59 2 12 2 0 2 0 908
2014 818 75 4 15 2 0 4 0 918
2015 794 68 3 22 2 0 8 0 897
2016 788 76 4 21 2 0 13 0 904
2017 797 86 6 27 2 0 14 0 932
2018 809 92 5 28 3 1 16 0 954
2019 765 75 6 29 0 2 12 0 889
2020 738 57 6 37 1 1 15 0 855
2021 716 51 4 38 2 0 19 0 830
2022 654 56 5 33 1 0 20 0 769
2023 639 53 4 40 2 0 31 0 769
2024 644 54 4 56 3 0 33 0 794

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Carter High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1092 74.0 14.7 n/a
1989 1033 74.0 13.9 n/a
1990 1038 74.0 14.0 n/a
1991 959 73.0 13.1 n/a
1992 1074 73.0 14.7 n/a
1993 1088 73.0 14.9 n/a
1994 1002 70.0 14.3 n/a
1995 1059 70.0 15.1 n/a
1996 1059 70.0 15.1 n/a
1997 997 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 985 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 932 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 929 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 938 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 1000 n/a n/a n/a
2003 1000 n/a n/a n/a
2004 908 n/a n/a n/a
2005 954 n/a n/a n/a
2006 963 62.0 15.5 n/a
2007 1092 75.9 14.4 32.5
2008 1021 70.7 14.4 39.4
2009 1015 69.2 14.7 40.7
2010 957 63.4 15.0 46.1
2011 933 62.6 14.9 42.4
2012 913 65.7 13.8 50.2
2013 908 67.0 13.5 50
2014 918 63.4 14.4 55.2
2015 897 67.0 13.3 34.3
2016 904 63.0 14.3 55
2017 932 56.3 16.5 n/a
2018 954 56.4 16.9 n/a
2019 889 56.5 15.7 n/a
2020 855 55.5 15.4 n/a
2021 830 56.9 14.5 n/a
2022 769 56.8 13.5 n/a
2023 769 56.5 13.6 n/a
2024 794 53.0 14.9 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Carter High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1092 74.0 14.7 n/a
1989 1033 74.0 13.9 n/a
1990 1038 74.0 14.0 n/a
1991 959 73.0 13.1 n/a
1992 1074 73.0 14.7 n/a
1993 1088 73.0 14.9 n/a
1994 1002 70.0 14.3 n/a
1995 1059 70.0 15.1 n/a
1996 1059 70.0 15.1 n/a
1997 997 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 985 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 932 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 929 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 938 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 1000 n/a n/a n/a
2003 1000 n/a n/a n/a
2004 908 n/a n/a n/a
2005 954 n/a n/a n/a
2006 963 62.0 15.5 n/a
2007 1092 75.9 14.4 32.5
2008 1021 70.7 14.4 39.4
2009 1015 69.2 14.7 40.7
2010 957 63.4 15.0 46.1
2011 933 62.6 14.9 42.4
2012 913 65.7 13.8 50.2
2013 908 67.0 13.5 50
2014 918 63.4 14.4 55.2
2015 897 67.0 13.3 34.3
2016 904 63.0 14.3 55
2017 932 56.3 16.5 n/a
2018 954 56.4 16.9 n/a
2019 889 56.5 15.7 n/a
2020 855 55.5 15.4 n/a
2021 830 56.9 14.5 n/a
2022 769 56.8 13.5 n/a
2023 769 56.5 13.6 n/a
2024 794 53.0 14.9 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Carter High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $442 (4.8%) $8,205 (89.9%) $9,126
2020 $502 (5.1%) $8,701 (88.6%) $9,817
2021 $754 (7.2%) $9,305 (89.0%) $10,456
2022 $875 (7.6%) $10,117 (88.4%) $11,440
2023 $1,011 (8.5%) $10,435 (87.6%) $11,907

Data source: Tennessee Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Carter High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 242nd of 342 High schoolsRanks 249th of 384 High schools
 5.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
9th Grade Algebra I (Carter High School)9.65.5
 4.1%
   9th Grade Algebra I (Knox County)14.69
 5.6%
   9th Grade Algebra I (Tennessee)21.815.5
 6.3%
9th Grade English I (Carter High School)24.230.1
 5.9%
   9th Grade English I (Knox County)41.541
 0.5%
   9th Grade English I (Tennessee)33.336
 2.7%
9th Grade Geometry (Carter High School)81.460
 21.4%
   9th Grade Geometry (Knox County)88.478.7
 9.7%
   9th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)7972.8
 6.2%
10th Grade Algebra II (Carter High School)7894.7
 16.7%
   10th Grade Algebra II (Knox County)77.969.9
 8%
   10th Grade Algebra II (Tennessee)46.747.7
 1%
10th Grade English II (Carter High School)29.134.9
 5.8%
   10th Grade English II (Knox County)50.751.4
 0.7%
   10th Grade English II (Tennessee)4450.7
 6.7%
10th Grade Geometry (Carter High School)16.511.3
 5.2%
   10th Grade Geometry (Knox County)2317.2
 5.8%
   10th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)28.223.8
 4.4%
11th Grade Algebra II (Carter High School)16.410.6
 5.8%
   11th Grade Algebra II (Knox County)13.911.2
 2.7%
   11th Grade Algebra II (Tennessee)17.716.8
 0.9%
11th Grade US History (Carter High School)27.831.8
 4%
   11th Grade US History (Knox County)36.543.6
 7.1%
   11th Grade US History (Tennessee)29.639.7
 10.1%
11th Grade English II (Carter High School)6.716.7
 10%
   11th Grade English II (Knox County)11.716.7
 5%
   11th Grade English II (Tennessee)10.515.4
 4.9%
All Grades Algebra II (Carter High School)28.221.7
 6.5%
   All Grades Algebra II (Knox County)32.426
 6.4%
   All Grades Algebra II (Tennessee)27.425.6
 1.8%
All Grades US History (Carter High School)27.732.2
 4.5%
   All Grades US History (Knox County)3643.1
 7.1%
   All Grades US History (Tennessee)28.638.5
 9.9%
All Grades English I (Carter High School)2426.5
 2.5%
   All Grades English I (Knox County)4039.2
 0.8%
   All Grades English I (Tennessee)32.735.4
 2.7%
All Grades English II (Carter High School)2833.7
 5.7%
   All Grades English II (Knox County)48.549.6
 1.1%
   All Grades English II (Tennessee)42.749.4
 6.7%
All Grades Geometry (Carter High School)25.915
 10.9%
   All Grades Geometry (Knox County)36.530.3
 6.2%
   All Grades Geometry (Tennessee)33.928.6
 5.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students889769
 13.5%
African American7553
 29.3%
American Indian02
Asian64
 33.3%
Hispanic2940
 37.9%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White765639
 16.5%
Two or More Races1231
 158.3%


Schools Near Carter High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Carter High School

Carter High School ranks 238th of 392 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Carter High School are 81% White, 7% Hispanic, 7% African American, 4% Two or more races.

Carter High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Carter Elementary
Elementary : Chilhowee Intermediate
Elementary : East Knox Elementary
Elementary : Sunnyview Primary
Middle : Carter Middle School

In the 2023-24 school year, 794 students attended Carter High School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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