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Polk County High School

Q: Is Polk County High School a good school?

Polk County High School ranks 133 rd of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

133^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 389 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 66% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Polk County High School is a public high school located in Benton, Tennessee, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 446 students. The school is part of the Polk County School District, which is ranked 107 out of 139 districts in Tennessee and is rated 1 star out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Polk County High School has consistently ranked in the top half of Tennessee high schools over the past several years, with a ranking between 81 and 230 out of 300-400 schools. The school's performance on state assessments (TNReady) is generally below the state average, with proficiency rates ranging from around 20-60% across different subject areas and grade levels. However, Polk County High School performs better in most subject areas compared to the Polk County district average, indicating it is one of the stronger performing schools within the district. The school's four-year graduation rate ranges from 79.4% to 89.4%, which is generally in line with or slightly below the state average, and its dropout rate has fluctuated between 3.8% and 12.5%, which is higher than the state average.

Interestingly, the closest school to Polk County High School, Copper Basin High School, performs similarly or slightly better on most metrics, including student performance, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism. Other nearby schools, such as McMinn High School, Bradley Central High School, and Cleveland High School, have a mix of higher and lower performance compared to Polk County High School, depending on the specific metric. Overall, Polk County High School's performance is generally in line with or slightly below the state average, but it compares favorably to some of the higher-performing nearby schools within the region.

400

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,807

Per pupil spending ?

57.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7200 Highway 411 North
Benton, TN 37307

(423) 299-0078

District: Polk County

Feeder schools for Polk County High School:

Elementary:	Benton Elementary
	South Polk Elementary
Middle:	Chilhowee Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.3%

Hispanic:

3.5%

Asian:

1.0%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Polk County High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 77th percentile in 2022 → 66th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Tennessee median (66th percentile)

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the Tennessee average (83% vs 90%)

!Ranking has slipped from its 77th-percentile peak (2022) to 66th (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg33%

Tennessee avg40%

133^rd of 389

Tennessee public high schools ?

Top 34%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 46% (2015) to top 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2High Schools in the Polk County

107^th of 139Polk County among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	58.6	133 of 389	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.2	147 of 392	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.6	141 of 384	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.4	81 of 358	77.4%	★★★★☆
2021	56.4	106 of 347	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.7	230 of 342	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.2	166 of 341	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	38.9	167 of 273	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	57.2	129 of 351	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.0	162 of 300	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	39.0	218 of 296	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	51.9	168 of 285	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.6	165 of 269	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	17.1	254 of 273	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	32.4	220 of 267	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	51.8	154 of 365	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.0	143 of 365	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.8	130 of 366	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.9	69 of 350	80.3%	★★★★☆
2021	50.5	142 of 340	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	27.9	262 of 337	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	88.9	12 of 324	96.3%	★★★★★
2024	56.1	108 of 337	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.5	24 of 330	92.7%	★★★★★
2022	73.6	35 of 322	89.1%	★★★★☆
2021	48.4	135 of 317	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.5	205 of 302	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.1	82 of 308	73.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	60.5	108 of 368	70.7%	★★★★☆
2024	48.5	166 of 366	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.6	144 of 359	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.5	98 of 349	71.9%	★★★★☆
2021	59.3	90 of 332	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	43.8	161 of 329	51.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	30.4	139 of 198	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.4	100 of 154	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.6	48 of 125	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	30.8	116 of 159	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	49.2	146 of 323	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.4	179 of 326	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.0	165 of 325	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.6	103 of 312	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.0	123 of 306	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	27.7	246 of 301	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.8	195 of 307	36.5%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)96th percentile+30 vs school

Male (2025)71st percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)58th percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)55th percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2025)30th percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

English II61%+7 vs state

Biology I55%+9 vs state

US History43%+4 vs state

Geometry38%~ state avg

English I28%-11 vs state

Algebra II22%-12 vs state

Algebra I19%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Polk County High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)			TNReady English Language Arts (2025)			TNReady Algebra I (2025)		TNReady Algebra II (2025)				TNReady Biology I (2025)				TNReady Integrated Math I (2025)		TNReady Integrated Math II (2025)		TNReady Integrated Math III (2025)			TNReady US History (2025)			TNReady English I (2025)		TNReady English II (2025)		TNReady Geometry (2025)				TNReady Science (2025)			TNReady Social Studies (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math I 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math III 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III All Grades	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Polk County High School	Public	9-12	7200 Highway 411 North	Benton	37307	Polk County	Polk County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 299-0078	446	29	15.6		422 (94.6%)	3 (0.7%)	14 (3.1%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	58.6	133^rd of 389 public high schools	65.8%		53.2	147^th of 392 public high schools	62.5%	14							20.5	19.0		22.0		22.1	63.6	56.8		55.1									43.0	42.9	28.9	27.9	61.3	61.1		40.0		38.0							$12,807	$592	$11,221
Walker Valley High School	Public	9-12	750 Lauderdale Memorial Hwy. N	Cleveland	37312	Bradley County	Bradley County	No	No	No	No	(423) 336-1383	1,501	96	15.6		1,277 (85.1%)	45 (3.0%)	111 (7.4%)	9 (0.6%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (3.7%)	69.5	80^th of 389 public high schools	79.4%		68.9	76^th of 392 public high schools	80.6%	4													91.3	47.0	33.3	52.5	43.1	43.0	30.0	42.9	90.1	28.6	38.7	45.0	37.6	38.7	46.9	46.3	65.7	64.8											$12,092	$574	$10,769
Bradley County Virtual School	Public, Virtual	6-12	2369 Parker Street NE	Cleveland	37311	Bradley County	Bradley County	No	No	Yes	No	(423) 709-8414	137	7	19.5		118 (86.1%)	4 (2.9%)	7 (5.1%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.1%)	59.5	130^th of 389 public high schools	66.6%		45.3	196^th of 392 public high schools	50.0%	66	35.7	25.0	31.3	57.1	41.7	53.1								47.4		45.0	29.4	29.4	26.3	23.8		14.8	14.8		33.3	30.0	53.3	53.3	75.0	75.0					50.0	41.7	50.0	42.9	33.3	34.4	$5,266	$432	$4,800
PIE Innovation Center	Public	9-12	2181 Parker St NE	Cleveland	37311	Bradley County	Bradley County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(423) 476-0620	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Cleveland High	Public	9-12	850 Raider DR	Cleveland	37312	Bradley County	Cleveland	No	No	No	No	(423) 478-1113	1,799	111	16.2		894 (49.7%)	186 (10.3%)	552 (30.7%)	41 (2.3%)	4 (0.2%)	15 (0.8%)	107 (5.9%)	39.7	224^th of 389 public high schools	42.4%		50.8	167^th of 392 public high schools	57.4%	57							8.9	8.9	94.0	14.8	6.3	25.7	89.3	27.7	20.0	41.8								30.0	23.2	23.9	36.8	35.9	57.5	53.9		27.7	6.7	36.3							$11,976	$534	$10,828
Central High School	Public	9-12	145 Co Road 461	Englewood	37329	McMinn County	McMinn County	No	No	No	No	(423) 263-5541	619	46	13.6		520 (84.0%)	16 (2.6%)	51 (8.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.8%)	63.2	104^th of 389 public high schools	73.3%		66.8	88^th of 392 public high schools	77.6%	16							24.6	23.7	86.7	51.3		48.3	94.1	38.8		46.2											35.8	34.3	62.2	60.3		29.1		30.2							$12,506	$511	$11,159
Bradley Central High School	Public	9-12	1000 South Lee Highway	Cleveland	37311	Bradley County	Bradley County	No	No	No	No	(423) 476-0650	1,662	109	15.2		1,352 (81.3%)	58 (3.5%)	172 (10.3%)	9 (0.5%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (4.0%)	55.4	145^th of 389 public high schools	62.7%		46.3	191^st of 392 public high schools	51.3%	46													90.6	32.2		38.3	35.5	35.2	38.3	41.8		35.8	41.0		29.9	30.0	35.1	33.9	49.9	49.1											$11,937	$553	$10,669
McMinn High School	Public	9-12	2215 Congress Pkwy	Athens	37303	McMinn County	McMinn County	No	No	No	No	(423) 745-4142	1,307	82	15.9		998 (76.4%)	81 (6.2%)	134 (10.3%)	19 (1.5%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (5.6%)	44.3	201^st of 389 public high schools	48.3%		47.1	188^th of 392 public high schools	52.0%	13							17.2	17.1	90.3	27.3		32.4	84.4	32.0	19.0	36.6									10.5	11.1	40.7	40.6	47.8	47.6	85.2	20.2		23.3							$10,890	$645	$9,441
Copper Basin High School	Public	7-12	205 Cougar DR	Copperhill	37317	Polk County	Polk County	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 496-3291	244	26	9.2		235 (96.3%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	66.6	89^th of 389 public high schools	77.1%		70.8	70^th of 392 public high schools	82.1%	19	34.4	40.6	37.5	37.5	34.4	35.9	16.7	12.2		51.9		51.9		46.7		45.7									48.3	45.2	42.9	38.5	69.7	62.2		28.6		25.8	40.6	40.6	40.6	62.5	56.3	59.4	$16,864	$410	$15,224

Frequently Asked Questions about Polk County High School

What is the racial makeup of Polk County High School?

Students at Polk County High School are 94% White, 4% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Polk County High School?

Polk County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Benton Elementary
Elementary : South Polk Elementary
Middle : Chilhowee Middle School

What district is Polk County High School in?

Polk County

Is Polk County High School a good school?

Polk County High School ranks 133^rd of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Polk County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 400 students attended Polk County High School.

Rate Polk County High School!

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TNTennessee High School Rankings

TNTennessee District Rankings

Schools in Benton, TN

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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.