TNTennessee rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Tennessee

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Tennessee average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 169 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Tennessee · Best schools

Seymour ranks #63 of 169

+2.7 pts vs. the TN average in math + reading · Visit Seymour →

1 Forest Hills +43.8 pts Math 67% · Reading 77% 2 Signal Mountain +37.2 pts Math 66.3% · Reading 64.7% 3 Brentwood +35.8 pts Math 56% · Reading 72.1%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

1 Forest HillsDavidson County +43.8 pts 67% 77%

2 Signal MountainHamilton County +37.2 pts 66.3% 64.7%

3 BrentwoodWilliamson County +35.8 pts 56% 72.1%

4 AtokaTipton County +33.8 pts 73% 51%

LakelandLakeland +29.2 pts 61.5% 53.5%

FranklinWilliamson County +26.6 pts 50.2% 59.4%

7 ArlingtonArlington +26.3 pts 50.1% 58.9%

NolensvilleWilliamson County +26.3 pts 50.8% 58.2%

9 ApisonHamilton County +25.5 pts 57.2% 50.3%

FarragutKnox County +25.3 pts 46.5% 60.6%

11 MaryvilleMaryville +24.4 pts 50.1% 55.2%

12 HendersonvilleSumner County +22.0 pts 52.4% 48.1%

13 ColliervilleCollierville +21.7 pts 41.8% 58.1%

ParsonsDecatur County +21.3 pts 52% 47%

15 Johnson CityJohnson City +20.7 pts 44.6% 53.3%

16 MedinaGibson Co Sp Dist +19.7 pts 51.4% 44.5%

Thompson's StationWilliamson County +19.0 pts 38.3% 56.2%

Mount CarmelHawkins County +18.8 pts 42% 52%

19 Middle ValleyHamilton County +16.7 pts 49.6% 40.3%

20 Mount JulietWilson County +16.3 pts 43.3% 45.9%

21 LouisvilleBlount County +16.3 pts 52% 37%

22 HendersonChester County +13.4 pts 39.7% 43.6%

23 South ClevelandBradley County +13.3 pts 45% 38%

24 Shackle IslandSumner County +12.8 pts 37.6% 44.5%

GermantownGermantown +12.1 pts 31.9% 48.8%

HarrogateClaiborne County +11.9 pts 41.1% 39.3%

Pleasant ViewCheatham County +11.3 pts 37% 42%

28 HopewellBradley County +11.3 pts 37% 42%

29 Park CityLincoln County +10.8 pts 43% 35%

AlgoodPutnam County +10.7 pts 40.8% 37.1%

McKenzieMcKenzie +10.1 pts 38% 38.6%

Spring HillWilliamson County +9.9 pts 33.9% 42.3%

33 MurfreesboroRutherford County +9.6 pts 33.8% 41.9%

34 KingsportKingsport +9.1 pts 32.7% 42%

35 Oak RidgeOak Ridge +8.6 pts 31.3% 42.3%

36 Sale CreekHamilton County +8.5 pts 37.5% 36.1%

DresdenWeakley County +8.5 pts 39.5% 34%

38 FairviewWilliamson County +8.4 pts 32.9% 40.3%

39 GallatinSumner County +8.3 pts 36% 37.1%

40 MunfordTipton County +8.1 pts 35.4% 37.3%

41 AlcoaAlcoa +7.8 pts 30.9% 41.2%

42 BartlettBartlett +7.6 pts 31.8% 39.9%

43 BristolBristol +7.3 pts 34.1% 37.1%

GreenevilleGreeneville +7.3 pts 32.4% 38.7%

45 NewbernDyer County +7.0 pts 29.9% 40.6%

46 CookevillePutnam County +5.9 pts 32% 36.3%

WestmorelandSumner County +5.9 pts 35.2% 33%

48 HuntingdonHuntingdon Special School District +5.6 pts 32.9% 34.7%

Soddy-DaisyHamilton County +5.4 pts 28.9% 38.5%

SmyrnaRutherford County +4.8 pts 30.6% 35.5%

51 White BluffDickson County +4.7 pts 33% 33%

52 ChristianaRutherford County +4.6 pts 32.5% 33.2%

53 HohenwaldLewis County +4.6 pts 32% 33.7%

54 Lake TansiCumberland County +4.3 pts 33% 32%

55 DicksonDickson County +4.2 pts 26.9% 38%

56 DyersburgDyersburg +3.9 pts 30.5% 33.8%

ClintonAnderson County +3.8 pts 28.8% 35.4%

KingstonRoane County +3.8 pts 26.6% 37.5%

59 LafayetteMacon County +3.4 pts 33.2% 30.1%

GatlinburgSevier County +3.2 pts 26.5% 36.3%

61 SeviervilleSevier County +3.0 pts 33.8% 28.7%

CrossvilleCumberland County +3.0 pts 24.5% 38%

63 SeymourSevier County +2.7 pts 25.2% 36.8%

64 Mountain CityJohnson County +2.7 pts 27.5% 34.5%

65 ElizabethtonElizabethton +2.5 pts 26.9% 34.5%

66 HallsKnox County +2.5 pts 27.5% 34%

67 MartinWeakley County +2.4 pts 19.7% 41.5%

Hartsville/Trousdale CountyTrousdale County +2.2 pts 26.5% 34.4%

PortlandSumner County +2.0 pts 30% 30.5%

70 Wildwood LakeBradley County +1.5 pts 33.1% 26.4%

TusculumGreene County +1.1 pts 30.1% 28.7%

MilanMilan +1.0 pts 30.5% 27.9%

LexingtonLexington +0.9 pts 24.5% 33.9%

LebanonWilson County +0.8 pts 21.3% 36.8%

75 MorristownHamblen County +0.5 pts 25.8% 31.8%

76 Lynchburg, Moore County metropolitan governmentMoore County +0.5 pts 27% 30.5%

BrightonTipton County +0.4 pts 25.6% 31.7%

78 Kingston SpringsCheatham County +0.4 pts 24.2% 33.1%

79 DaytonDayton +0.3 pts 30% 27%

FayettevilleLincoln County +0.3 pts 18% 39%

81 OneidaOneida +0.3 pts 27.1% 30%

82 CamdenBenton County +0.3 pts 24.8% 32.2%

83 Union CityUnion City +0.1 pts 22.1% 34.6%

84 SpartaWhite County +0.1 pts 24% 32.7%

85 GoodlettsvilleDavidson County −0.4 pts 27.4% 28.3%

86 LawrenceburgLawrence County −0.5 pts 27.4% 28.1%

Lenoir CityLenoir City −0.6 pts 24.1% 31.2%

88 SavannahHardin County −0.6 pts 26.4% 29%

CoopertownRobertson County −0.9 pts 29.4% 25.2%

White HouseJohnson County −1.1 pts 23.2% 31.1%

JasperMarion County −1.2 pts 21.8% 32.2%

92 Ashland CityCheatham County −1.3 pts 26.9% 26.9%

EtowahEtowah −1.3 pts 33% 21%

94 WaverlyHumphreys County −1.5 pts 23.4% 30.2%

95 DunlapSequatchie County −1.6 pts 26.5% 26.8%

96 DandridgeJefferson County −1.6 pts 19% 34.3%

97 ClarksvilleMontgomery County −2.0 pts 20.5% 32%

98 ClevelandCleveland −2.0 pts 21.9% 30.6%

99 AthensMcMinn County −2.1 pts 16.6% 35.7%

100 LoudonLoudon County −2.1 pts 28.2% 24.1%

101 MontereyPutnam County −2.6 pts 24.9% 26.5%

102 SelmerMcNairy County −2.7 pts 20.3% 30.9%

103 LewisburgMarshall County −2.8 pts 23.1% 27.8%

104

Church HillHawkins County −2.8 pts 20.8% 30.2%

105 JacksboroCampbell County −2.8 pts 28% 23%

106 Jefferson CityJefferson County −3.1 pts 25.4% 24.9%

107 GreenbrierRobertson County −3.1 pts 24.8% 25.5%

108

ChattanoogaHamilton County −3.3 pts 23.7% 26.1%

109

SweetwaterSweetwater −3.3 pts 24.2% 25.6%

110

CollegedaleHamilton County −3.7 pts 23.2% 25.8%

111 ErwinUnicoi County −3.7 pts 20.8% 28.3%

112 TullahomaTullahoma −3.8 pts 22.7% 26.2%

113 ManchesterCoffee County −3.8 pts 22.7% 26.2%

114 NewportCocke County −3.8 pts 19.7% 29.3%

115

ParisHenry County −4.0 pts 18.4% 30.1%

116

KnoxvilleKnox County −4.2 pts 18.6% 29.5%

117 PowellKnox County −4.2 pts 18% 30.1%

118

TrentonTrenton −4.5 pts 23.3% 24.2%

119 Red BankHamilton County −4.7 pts 18% 29%

120

McMinnvilleWarren County −4.8 pts 17.8% 29%

121 Mount PleasantMaury County −5.0 pts 19.7% 26.9%

122

Oak HillDavidson County −5.0 pts 13.5% 32.9%

123 Oliver SpringsRoane County −5.1 pts 18.9% 27.4%

124 RogersvilleRogersville −5.3 pts 21.2% 24.8%

125 La VergneRutherford County −5.4 pts 20.3% 25.4%

126 KarnsKnox County −6.0 pts 15.3% 29.1%

127 CentervilleHickman County −6.0 pts 18.5% 26%

128

MillersvilleSumner County −6.3 pts 22% 22%

129 UnicoiUnicoi County −6.3 pts 22% 22%

130

LivingstonOverton County −6.7 pts 11.1% 32.1%

131

South PittsburgMarion County −6.7 pts 20.8% 22.4%

132 MadisonvilleMonroe County −6.8 pts 20.8% 22.1%

133

HarrimanRoane County −7.6 pts 20.9% 20.5%

134 ShelbyvilleBedford County −8.3 pts 16.4% 23.5%

135 SmithvilleDeKalb County −8.3 pts 14.3% 25.6%

136 New TazewellClaiborne County −8.4 pts 12% 27.6%

137 TazewellClaiborne County −8.7 pts 20.5% 18.7%

138

Estill SpringsFranklin County −8.8 pts 22% 17%

139 White PineJefferson County −8.8 pts 20% 19%

140 Pigeon ForgeSevier County −8.9 pts 17.7% 21%

141 MosheimGreene County −9.3 pts 15.7% 22.3%

142 DecherdFranklin County −9.6 pts 19.1% 18.1%

143 Strawberry PlainsJefferson County −9.8 pts 18% 19%

144

East RidgeHamilton County −10.0 pts 17.9% 18.5%

145 ColumbiaMaury County −10.1 pts 16.2% 20.1%

146 RockwoodRoane County −10.4 pts 15.2% 20.4%

147 CovingtonTipton County −10.6 pts 14.7% 20.6%

148 Nashville-Davidson metropolitan governmentDavidson County −10.8 pts 13.3% 21.6%

149 BloomingdaleSullivan County −10.8 pts 16% 19%

150 Bean StationGrainger County −10.8 pts 15% 20%

151 MaynardvilleUnion County −11.0 pts 12.9% 21.6%

152

SpringfieldRobertson County −11.2 pts 12.9% 21.3%

153 MascotKnox County −11.3 pts 16% 18%

154

PulaskiGiles County −11.9 pts 11.9% 20.8%

155 WinchesterFranklin County −12.5 pts 7.9% 23.6%

156 CoalfieldMorgan County −12.8 pts 15% 16%

157

JacksonMadison County −13.2 pts 9.6% 20.4%

158 CliftonWayne County −13.5 pts 7.5% 22%

159

OaklandFayette County Public Schools −13.9 pts 10.8% 17.8%

160 MillingtonMillington Municipal Schools −14.6 pts 6% 21.3%

161 BolivarHardeman County Schools −15.2 pts 8.4% 17.6%

162 MemphisMemphis-Shelby County Schools −17.0 pts 7.5% 15.1%

163 RipleyLauderdale County −17.1 pts 8.1% 14.3%

164

La FolletteCampbell County −17.2 pts 10.2% 11.8%

165 WhitevilleHardeman County Schools −18.5 pts 7.5% 12%

166

SomervilleFayette County Public Schools −19.3 pts 7% 11%

167 BrownsvilleHaywood County −20.6 pts 3.5% 11.7%

168 HumboldtHumboldt City Schools −21.7 pts 3.5% 9.5%

169 TiptonvilleLake County −22.4 pts 1% 10.8%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Tennessee average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Tennessee only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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