West High School

Summary:

West High School is a public high school located in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 1,478. The school is part of the Knox County school district, which is ranked 72 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

West High School consistently ranks among the top 50-125 high schools in Tennessee, with a 4-star rating in some years. The school's performance on TNReady/Biology I and English II exams is significantly higher than the Knox County and Tennessee state averages, indicating strong academic achievement. West High School's White and Asian student subgroups perform exceptionally well, ranking in the top 20 and top 12 in the state, respectively. However, the school's special education and low socioeconomic status student subgroups perform below the state average, ranking in the bottom 100 and bottom 250 high schools in Tennessee, respectively.

While West High School has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 58.12% White, 20.43% African American, and 13.26% Hispanic, there are notable achievement gaps between racial subgroups. The White and Asian student subgroups consistently outperform the African American and Hispanic student subgroups, indicating the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities. Nearby schools like Bearden High School and L N STEM Academy also demonstrate strong academic performance, ranking among the top 50-80 high schools in the state, while Fulton High School and Austin East High/Magnet have significantly lower academic performance compared to West High School.


Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

 3300 Sutherland AVE
       Knoxville, TN  37919


(865) 594-4477

District: Knox County

SchoolDigger Rank:
134th of 392 Tennessee High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,319 Help


Feeder schools for West High School:

Elementary:    Bearden Elementary
    Pond Gap Elementary
    Sequoyah Elementary
    West Haven Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Bearden Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.8 Help
Number of students:  1,478

Racial breakdown:

White:
58.1%
African American:
20.4%
Hispanic:
13.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  34.3% Help


 See top rated Tennessee high schools

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Performance Trends
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Compare Details West High School ranks better than 65.8% of high schools in Tennessee. It also ranks 5th 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 57.02. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West 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 West 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 West High School is $10,319. 8 high schools in the Knox County School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

West High School:

SchoolDigger ranks West High School 134th of 392 Tennessee public high schools. (See West High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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 West High School.

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Rank History for West High School

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Rank History for all students at West High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 57.54 129th 267 51.7%
2011 43.64 190th 273 30.4%
2012 47.33 180th 269 33.1%
2013 55.10 145th 285 49.1%
2014 45.42 190th 296 35.8%
2015 47.83 195th 300 35.0%
2016 67.66 72nd 351 79.5%
2017 58.07 84th 273 69.2%
2018 56.05 105th 341 69.2%
2019 63.74 75th 342 78.1%
2021 55.43 110th 347 68.3%
2022 65.52 76th 358 78.8%
2023 58.47 123rd 384 68.0%
2024 57.02 134th 392 65.8%
See the entire list of Tennessee High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at West High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.92 36th 159 77.4%
2019 60.76 30th 127 76.4%
2021 31.55 86th 125 31.2%
2022 35.14 100th 151 33.8%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.44 195th 308 36.7%
2019 49.75 125th 302 58.6%
2021 22.87 262nd 317 17.4%
2022 30.89 239th 322 25.8%
2023 31.02 240th 330 27.3%
2024 25.00 278th 337 17.5%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at West High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 65.83 70th 337 79.2%
2021 52.94 127th 340 62.6%
2022 56.91 109th 350 68.9%
2023 55.94 132nd 366 63.9%
2024 54.96 139th 365 61.9%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at West High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 67.74 61st 329 81.5%
2021 52.32 114th 332 65.7%
2022 65.05 72nd 349 79.4%
2023 59.52 102nd 359 71.6%
2024 56.28 129th 366 64.8%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at West High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 72.90 12th 47 74.5%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at West High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.53 115th 199 42.2%
2019 51.80 63rd 187 66.3%
2021 36.87 120th 208 42.3%
2022 42.14 111th 222 50.0%
2023 35.72 140th 239 41.4%
2024 34.33 141st 240 41.3%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at West High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.45 129th 159 18.9%
2019 45.28 74th 153 51.6%
2021 52.64 65th 180 63.9%
2022 38.75 109th 189 42.3%
2023 44.87 97th 202 52.0%
2024 45.87 94th 209 55.0%
See the entire list of Best Tennessee High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at West High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.05 66th 307 78.5%
2019 74.92 50th 301 83.4%
2021 61.17 68th 306 77.8%
2022 65.42 70th 312 77.6%
2023 66.16 64th 325 80.3%
2024 70.02 64th 326 80.4%
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.

West 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: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Sunday, April 30, 2023

Open Quote they don't handle serious situations well, at all. Close Quote


by a student
Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Open Quote West has the IB program, and is the only school in knox county that has it. The teachers are great and open minded to new possibilities, and the cultural diversity is unlike anywhere else. Definitely a great and positive place. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, September 6, 2012

Open Quote School is in total disarray since Principal Greg Roach left. Close Quote


by a student
Friday, January 22, 2010

Open Quote west is amazing. it has amazing teachers and amazing extra activities. i love it. Close Quote



Enrollment information for West 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 701 55 13 5 0 n/a n/a 0 774
1989 681 67 7 2 2 n/a n/a 0 759
1990 599 74 3 3 2 n/a n/a 0 681
1991 627 74 6 4 1 n/a n/a 0 712
1992 724 86 7 5 1 n/a n/a 0 823
1993 728 210 7 5 0 n/a n/a 0 950
1994 922 265 10 8 3 n/a n/a 0 1208
1995 998 263 18 10 5 n/a n/a 0 1294
1996 998 263 18 10 5 n/a n/a 0 1294
1997 1066 233 24 9 2 n/a n/a -98 1236
1998 1122 170 19 10 3 n/a n/a -1 1323
1999 1008 227 27 8 3 n/a n/a 1 1274
2000 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1373 1373
2001 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1296 1296
2002 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1356 1356
2003 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1356 1356
2004 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1339 1339
2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1458 1458
2006 1088 306 32 28 5 n/a n/a 0 1459
2007 1155 398 31 60 3 n/a n/a 0 1647
2008 1017 391 25 50 4 n/a n/a 0 1487
2009 916 368 20 58 3 n/a n/a 0 1365
2010 878 366 18 59 5 n/a n/a 0 1326
2011 854 331 10 58 5 5 9 0 1272
2012 840 315 20 58 2 3 10 0 1248
2013 807 315 18 64 1 1 27 0 1233
2014 796 310 19 69 3 1 37 0 1235
2015 833 360 16 90 2 3 51 0 1355
2016 805 362 19 98 1 3 55 0 1343
2017 807 353 21 108 3 3 62 0 1357
2018 855 298 25 134 2 4 62 0 1380
2019 885 305 28 143 1 2 69 0 1433
2020 891 271 27 158 0 1 76 0 1424
2021 934 269 34 163 0 0 87 0 1487
2022 909 305 23 187 0 3 98 0 1525
2023 859 302 27 196 0 1 93 0 1478

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 West High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 774 48.0 16.1 n/a
1989 759 48.0 15.8 n/a
1990 681 48.0 14.1 n/a
1991 712 53.0 13.4 n/a
1992 823 53.0 15.5 n/a
1993 950 53.0 17.9 n/a
1994 1208 67.0 18.0 n/a
1995 1294 67.0 19.3 n/a
1996 1294 67.0 19.3 n/a
1997 1236 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 1323 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 1274 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 1373 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 1296 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 1356 n/a n/a n/a
2003 1356 n/a n/a n/a
2004 1339 n/a n/a n/a
2005 1458 n/a n/a n/a
2006 1459 79.5 18.4 n/a
2007 1647 85.6 19.2 28.2
2008 1487 87.4 17.0 34.8
2009 1365 83.5 16.3 42
2010 1326 82.8 16.0 41.9
2011 1272 84.5 15.0 45.1
2012 1248 80.4 15.5 45.6
2013 1233 79.8 15.4 44.2
2014 1235 75.7 16.3 47
2015 1355 74.0 18.3 41.7
2016 1343 77.0 17.4 44.4
2017 1357 81.2 16.7 n/a
2018 1380 77.9 17.7 n/a
2019 1433 82.2 17.4 n/a
2020 1424 85.3 16.6 34.3
2021 1487 83.0 17.8 n/a
2022 1525 85.5 17.8 n/a
2023 1478 87.5 16.8 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 West High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 774 48.0 16.1 n/a
1989 759 48.0 15.8 n/a
1990 681 48.0 14.1 n/a
1991 712 53.0 13.4 n/a
1992 823 53.0 15.5 n/a
1993 950 53.0 17.9 n/a
1994 1208 67.0 18.0 n/a
1995 1294 67.0 19.3 n/a
1996 1294 67.0 19.3 n/a
1997 1236 n/a 0.0 n/a
1998 1323 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 1274 n/a 0.0 n/a
2000 1373 n/a 0.0 n/a
2001 1296 n/a 0.0 n/a
2002 1356 n/a n/a n/a
2003 1356 n/a n/a n/a
2004 1339 n/a n/a n/a
2005 1458 n/a n/a n/a
2006 1459 79.5 18.4 n/a
2007 1647 85.6 19.2 28.2
2008 1487 87.4 17.0 34.8
2009 1365 83.5 16.3 42
2010 1326 82.8 16.0 41.9
2011 1272 84.5 15.0 45.1
2012 1248 80.4 15.5 45.6
2013 1233 79.8 15.4 44.2
2014 1235 75.7 16.3 47
2015 1355 74.0 18.3 41.7
2016 1343 77.0 17.4 44.4
2017 1357 81.2 16.7 n/a
2018 1380 77.9 17.7 n/a
2019 1433 82.2 17.4 n/a
2020 1424 85.3 16.6 34.3
2021 1487 83.0 17.8 n/a
2022 1525 85.5 17.8 n/a
2023 1478 87.5 16.8 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 West High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $389 (4.7%) $7,426 (89.6%) $8,284
2020 $479 (5.5%) $7,791 (89.0%) $8,756
2021 $674 (7.5%) $8,146 (90.5%) $9,004
2022 $779 (8.2%) $8,419 (88.6%) $9,500
2023 $855 (8.3%) $9,104 (88.2%) $10,319

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

Impact of COVID-19 on West 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 75th of 342 High schoolsRanks 123rd of 384 High schools
 10.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
9th Grade English I (West High School)51.445.7
 5.7%
   9th Grade English I (Knox County)41.541
 0.5%
   9th Grade English I (Tennessee)33.336
 2.7%
10th Grade Algebra II (West High School)73.473
 0.4%
   10th Grade Algebra II (Knox County)77.969.9
 8%
   10th Grade Algebra II (Tennessee)46.747.7
 1%
10th Grade English II (West High School)56.252.9
 3.3%
   10th Grade English II (Knox County)50.751.4
 0.7%
   10th Grade English II (Tennessee)4450.7
 6.7%
11th Grade Algebra II (West High School)5.45.7
 0.3%
   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 (West High School)40.942.7
 1.8%
   11th Grade US History (Knox County)36.537.9
 1.4%
   11th Grade US History (Tennessee)29.638.8
 9.2%
11th Grade English II (West High School)14.310
 4.3%
   11th Grade English II (Knox County)11.713.6
 1.9%
   11th Grade English II (Tennessee)10.513.3
 2.8%
All Grades Algebra II (West High School)34.434.4
   All Grades Algebra II (Knox County)32.426
 6.4%
   All Grades Algebra II (Tennessee)27.425.6
 1.8%
All Grades US History (West High School)41.142.1
 1%
   All Grades US History (Knox County)3637.3
 1.3%
   All Grades US History (Tennessee)28.637.7
 9.1%
All Grades English I (West High School)50.345.2
 5.1%
   All Grades English I (Knox County)4039.2
 0.8%
   All Grades English I (Tennessee)32.735.4
 2.7%
All Grades English II (West High School)52.951.6
 1.3%
   All Grades English II (Knox County)48.549.6
 1.1%
   All Grades English II (Tennessee)42.749.4
 6.7%
All Grades Geometry (West High School)93.935.8
 58.1%
   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 Students14331478
 3.1%
African American305302
 1%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian2827
 3.6%
Hispanic143196
 37.1%
Pacific Islander21
 50%
White885859
 2.9%
Two or More Races6993
 34.8%


Schools Near West High School









Frequently Asked Questions about West High School

West High School ranks 134th of 392 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at West High School are 58% White, 20% African American, 13% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

West High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bearden Elementary
Elementary : Pond Gap Elementary
Elementary : Sequoyah Elementary
Elementary : West Haven Elementary
Elementary : West View Elementary
Middle : Bearden Middle School

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,478 students attended West 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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