Powell High School

Summary:

Powell High School is a public high school serving 1,347 students in grades 9-12 in Powell, Tennessee, which is part of the Knox County School District. The school consistently performs above state and county averages in several subject areas, including Biology I, US History, and English II, with 67.6% of 10th-grade students proficient or better in Biology I compared to 55.3% in Knox County and 36.5% statewide.

Powell High School has a more diverse student population than nearby schools, with a higher percentage of White (67.63%) and Hispanic (17.45%) students. However, the school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with White students ranking 104th out of 309 Tennessee high schools, but Hispanic students ranking only 160th out of 192. Notably, the school's performance for English Language Learner (ELL) students is particularly strong, ranking 2nd out of 13 Tennessee high schools in 2023-2024.

While Powell High School outperforms the state and county averages in several areas, it is not the top-performing school in the immediate vicinity. L N STEM Academy and West High School both have higher academic achievement and statewide rankings. Additionally, Halls High School and Karns High School, which are also in the Knox County School District, have similar performance and ranking to Powell High School in many areas.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 2136 West Emory RD
       Powell, TN  37849


(865) 938-2171

District: Knox County

SchoolDigger Rank:
186th of 392 Tennessee High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,262 Help


Feeder schools for Powell High School:

Elementary:    Norwood Elementary
    Powell Elementary
Middle:    Powell Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  17.3 Help
Number of students:  1,347

Racial breakdown:

White:
67.6%
Hispanic:
17.4%
African American:
9.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  40.1% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Powell High School ranks better than 52.6% of high schools in Tennessee. It also ranks 7th among 15 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 47.55. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Powell 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
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Compare Details Powell High School has the largest high school student body size in the Knox County School District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Powell High School is $10,262. 10 high schools in the Knox County School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Powell High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Powell High School 186th of 392 Tennessee public high schools. (See Powell High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
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.)


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Rank History for Powell High School

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Rank History for all students at Powell High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 61.75 112th 267 58.1%
2011 55.65 145th 273 46.9%
2012 50.14 168th 269 37.5%
2013 55.19 143rd 285 49.8%
2014 55.46 125th 296 57.8%
2015 60.70 131st 300 56.3%
2016 53.82 147th 351 58.1%
2017 42.02 157th 273 42.5%
2018 50.61 134th 341 60.7%
2019 47.87 147th 342 57.0%
2021 41.13 191st 347 45.0%
2022 46.02 169th 358 52.8%
2023 37.42 230th 384 40.1%
2024 47.55 186th 392 52.6%
See the entire list of Tennessee High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Powell High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 21.28 11th 13 15.4%
2023 34.34 13th 18 27.8%
2024 61.92 8th 29 72.4%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Powell High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.22 92nd 159 42.1%
2019 45.90 64th 127 49.6%
2021 18.12 120th 125 4.0%
2022 63.20 19th 151 87.4%
2023 22.43 135th 154 12.3%
2024 41.70 92nd 183 49.7%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.49 95th 308 69.2%
2019 49.27 131st 302 56.6%
2021 37.05 202nd 317 36.3%
2022 37.33 197th 322 38.8%
2023 23.23 272nd 330 17.6%
2024 29.96 253rd 337 24.9%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Powell High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 53.63 122nd 337 63.8%
2021 43.60 176th 340 48.2%
2022 42.61 194th 350 44.6%
2023 37.30 233rd 366 36.3%
2024 46.59 185th 365 49.3%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Powell High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 39.73 186th 329 43.5%
2021 42.63 169th 332 49.1%
2022 44.93 163rd 349 53.3%
2023 37.09 213th 359 40.7%
2024 43.56 188th 366 48.6%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Powell High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.19 131st 199 34.2%
2019 38.23 105th 187 43.9%
2021 41.51 106th 208 49.0%
2022 31.03 154th 222 30.6%
2023 27.55 175th 239 26.8%
2024 36.74 130th 240 45.8%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Powell High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.31 100th 159 37.1%
2019 29.13 106th 153 30.7%
2021 39.33 102nd 180 43.3%
2022 38.94 107th 189 43.4%
2023 19.50 178th 202 11.9%
2024 23.20 177th 209 15.3%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Powell High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.67 127th 307 58.6%
2019 47.07 140th 301 53.5%
2021 38.14 190th 306 37.9%
2022 42.14 171st 312 45.2%
2023 39.85 184th 325 43.4%
2024 48.04 148th 326 54.6%
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.

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







Data source: Tennessee Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Powell High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 928 7 4 0 0 n/a n/a 0 939
1989 911 11 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a -4 920
1990 889 18 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 909
1991 886 21 4 1 1 n/a n/a 0 913
1992 928 22 4 1 1 n/a n/a 0 956
1993 975 19 4 0 0 n/a n/a 0 998
1994 975 31 4 1 1 n/a n/a 0 1012
1995 1063 28 0 4 3 n/a n/a 0 1098
1996 1063 28 0 4 3 n/a n/a 0 1098
1997 1074 26 2 3 2 n/a n/a -27 1080
1998 941 142 16 8 2 n/a n/a 0 1109
1999 1037 16 5 3 2 n/a n/a 0 1063
2000 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1195 1195
2001 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1120 1120
2002 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1147 1147
2003 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1147 1147
2004 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1121 1121
2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1150 1150
2006 1151 21 6 12 0 n/a n/a 0 1190
2007 1264 32 7 19 0 n/a n/a 0 1322
2008 1178 27 7 14 4 n/a n/a 0 1230
2009 1250 94 8 27 5 n/a n/a 0 1384
2010 1264 118 11 34 7 n/a n/a 0 1434
2011 1234 108 9 48 9 0 1 0 1409
2012 1227 119 7 61 7 0 1 0 1422
2013 1184 123 11 61 9 3 2 0 1393
2014 1175 107 13 61 6 3 6 0 1371
2015 1168 95 14 73 3 3 11 0 1367
2016 1156 91 15 72 3 3 12 0 1352
2017 1102 92 15 107 4 2 18 0 1340
2018 1069 93 16 112 3 1 14 0 1308
2019 1046 117 14 114 0 0 22 0 1313
2020 1002 117 11 152 0 0 31 0 1313
2021 987 140 13 166 2 0 41 0 1349
2022 942 119 16 186 2 0 57 0 1322
2023 911 121 19 235 2 0 59 0 1347

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 Powell High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 939 54.0 17.3 n/a
1989 920 54.0 17.0 n/a
1990 909 54.0 16.8 n/a
1991 913 54.0 16.9 n/a
1992 956 54.0 17.7 n/a
1993 998 54.0 18.5 n/a
1994 1012 53.0 19.1 n/a
1995 1098 53.0 20.7 n/a
1996 1098 53.0 20.7 n/a
1997 1080 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 1109 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 1063 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 1195 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 1120 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 1147 n/a n/a n/a
2003 1147 n/a n/a n/a
2004 1121 n/a n/a n/a
2005 1150 n/a n/a n/a
2006 1190 63.1 18.9 n/a
2007 1322 66.4 19.9 17.9
2008 1230 68.3 18.0 22
2009 1384 68.5 20.2 21.2
2010 1434 79.2 18.1 30.1
2011 1409 78.6 17.9 35.3
2012 1422 75.4 18.8 40.4
2013 1393 75.0 18.5 42.3
2014 1371 78.9 17.3 42.6
2015 1367 81.0 16.8 32.6
2016 1352 74.0 18.2 37.9
2017 1340 77.0 17.4 n/a
2018 1308 72.5 18.0 n/a
2019 1313 74.6 17.6 n/a
2020 1313 81.4 16.1 40.1
2021 1349 77.2 17.4 n/a
2022 1322 75.5 17.5 n/a
2023 1347 77.5 17.3 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 Powell High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 939 54.0 17.3 n/a
1989 920 54.0 17.0 n/a
1990 909 54.0 16.8 n/a
1991 913 54.0 16.9 n/a
1992 956 54.0 17.7 n/a
1993 998 54.0 18.5 n/a
1994 1012 53.0 19.1 n/a
1995 1098 53.0 20.7 n/a
1996 1098 53.0 20.7 n/a
1997 1080 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 1109 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 1063 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 1195 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 1120 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 1147 n/a n/a n/a
2003 1147 n/a n/a n/a
2004 1121 n/a n/a n/a
2005 1150 n/a n/a n/a
2006 1190 63.1 18.9 n/a
2007 1322 66.4 19.9 17.9
2008 1230 68.3 18.0 22
2009 1384 68.5 20.2 21.2
2010 1434 79.2 18.1 30.1
2011 1409 78.6 17.9 35.3
2012 1422 75.4 18.8 40.4
2013 1393 75.0 18.5 42.3
2014 1371 78.9 17.3 42.6
2015 1367 81.0 16.8 32.6
2016 1352 74.0 18.2 37.9
2017 1340 77.0 17.4 n/a
2018 1308 72.5 18.0 n/a
2019 1313 74.6 17.6 n/a
2020 1313 81.4 16.1 40.1
2021 1349 77.2 17.4 n/a
2022 1322 75.5 17.5 n/a
2023 1347 77.5 17.3 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 Powell High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $449 (5.2%) $7,752 (90.6%) $8,558
2020 $477 (5.4%) $8,058 (91.1%) $8,842
2021 $662 (7.2%) $8,301 (90.3%) $9,189
2022 $800 (8.1%) $8,711 (88.7%) $9,816
2023 $862 (8.4%) $9,045 (88.1%) $10,262

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Powell 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 147th of 342 High schoolsRanks 230th of 384 High schools
 16.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
9th Grade Algebra I (Powell High School)8.86.9
 1.9%
   9th Grade Algebra I (Knox County)14.68.6
 6%
   9th Grade Algebra I (Tennessee)21.817.8
 4%
9th Grade English I (Powell High School)35.832.7
 3.1%
   9th Grade English I (Knox County)41.541
 0.5%
   9th Grade English I (Tennessee)33.336
 2.7%
9th Grade Geometry (Powell High School)71.673.3
 1.7%
   9th Grade Geometry (Knox County)88.478.7
 9.7%
   9th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)7972.8
 6.2%
10th Grade Algebra II (Powell High School)69.656.4
 13.2%
   10th Grade Algebra II (Knox County)77.969.9
 8%
   10th Grade Algebra II (Tennessee)46.747.7
 1%
10th Grade English II (Powell High School)5140
 11%
   10th Grade English II (Knox County)50.751.4
 0.7%
   10th Grade English II (Tennessee)4450.7
 6.7%
10th Grade Geometry (Powell High School)21.213.6
 7.6%
   10th Grade Geometry (Knox County)2317.2
 5.8%
   10th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)28.223.8
 4.4%
11th Grade Algebra II (Powell High School)6.65.1
 1.5%
   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 (Powell High School)38.135.3
 2.8%
   11th Grade US History (Knox County)36.543.6
 7.1%
   11th Grade US History (Tennessee)29.639.7
 10.1%
11th Grade Geometry (Powell High School)9.119
 9.9%
   11th Grade Geometry (Knox County)7.56.9
 0.6%
   11th Grade Geometry (Tennessee)2017.1
 2.9%
All Grades Algebra I (Powell High School)8.46.4
 2%
   All Grades Algebra I (Knox County)27.321.2
 6.1%
   All Grades Algebra I (Tennessee)27.423.2
 4.2%
All Grades Algebra II (Powell High School)21.213.7
 7.5%
   All Grades Algebra II (Knox County)32.426
 6.4%
   All Grades Algebra II (Tennessee)27.425.6
 1.8%
All Grades US History (Powell High School)38.335
 3.3%
   All Grades US History (Knox County)3643.1
 7.1%
   All Grades US History (Tennessee)28.638.5
 9.9%
All Grades English I (Powell High School)34.432.2
 2.2%
   All Grades English I (Knox County)4039.2
 0.8%
   All Grades English I (Tennessee)32.735.4
 2.7%
All Grades English II (Powell High School)5039.1
 10.9%
   All Grades English II (Knox County)48.549.6
 1.1%
   All Grades English II (Tennessee)42.749.4
 6.7%
All Grades Geometry (Powell High School)29.224.2
 5%
   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 Students13131347
 2.6%
African American117121
 3.4%
American Indian02
Asian1419
 35.7%
Hispanic114235
 106.1%
Pacific Islander00
White1046911
 12.9%
Two or More Races2259
 168.2%


Schools Near Powell High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Powell High School

Powell High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Norwood Elementary
Elementary : Powell Elementary
Middle : Powell Middle School

Powell High School ranks 186th of 392 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,347 students attended Powell High School.

Students at Powell High School are 68% White, 17% Hispanic, 9% African American, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian.


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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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