Knox County School District and Higher Education

childern standing at school during a math education lesson knoxville tennessee

How to Choose the Right School in Knoxville, TN

Choosing the right school can be one of the biggest decisions when relocating. Luckily, Knoxville offers a wide range of options to fit different learning styles, needs, and values. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you get started.

School Zones in Knox County

  • Public schools in Knoxville are assigned based on your residential address.

  • You can use the Knox County Schools zone lookup tool to check which schools serve your new neighborhood.

  • Many families use zoning info to help choose which part of Knoxville to live in.

Public Schools

  • 88 public schools in Knox County

  • Options include traditional, magnet, and career/technical schools

  • Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses available at most high schools

  • Several schools offer special education, gifted programs, and English language support

Top-Rated Public High Schools:

  • Farragut High

  • Hardin Valley Academy

  • Bearden High

Private School Options

Knoxville has dozens of private schools across all grade levels—religious, secular, Montessori, and college-prep.

Popular Choices Include:

  • Webb School of Knoxville – K–12 college prep

  • Knoxville Catholic High School – Grades 9–12

  • Episcopal School of Knoxville – K–8

  • Christian Academy of Knoxville – PreK–12

Things to Consider:

  • Tuition cost

  • Religious affiliation (if any)

  • Class size and student-teacher ratios

  • Campus activities and sports programs

Need-Based and Specialty Programs

  • Tennessee School for the Deaf – State-run residential school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students

  • Bearden Adaptive Learning Center – Serves children with physical or cognitive disabilities

  • Gifted programs and support services are integrated into many public schools

Don’t Forget About Higher Education

If you have older students or are continuing your own education, Knoxville has excellent options:

  • University of Tennessee – Knoxville

  • Pellissippi State Community College

  • Johnson University

  • South College

Many schools in Tennessee also participate in Tennessee Promise (free community college for recent grads) and Tennessee Reconnect (free tuition for adult learners).

Knoxville makes it easy to find a school that fits your family’s needs, whether you’re looking for top public schools, a strong private program, or special services. With so many education options available, you can feel confident making Knoxville your next home.

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