Best Public Schools in Huntsville, TN

Huntsville, Tennessee is served by four schools — Scott High School, Huntsville Elementary School, Huntsville Middle School, and Fairview Elementary School — that together enroll roughly 1,545 students across grades PK-12 within the Scott County Schools district. The district as a whole is ranked 100 out of 141 Tennessee districts, placing it in the 29th percentile with a 1-star rating.

The strongest schools in Huntsville are its two elementary schools. Fairview Elementary School is the highest-ranked school in the city, sitting at the 73rd percentile with 4 stars, and it has been consistently strong for three consecutive years. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at just 7.9%, and it exceeds state averages in math, ELA, and science at the all-grade level. Huntsville Elementary School is the district's most improved school, jumping from the 37th percentile in 2023-24 to the 71st percentile in 2025-26, a remarkable turnaround that earned it a 4-star rating. Its all-grade math proficiency of 58.7% is well above the state average of 43.0%.

The secondary schools tell a different story. Huntsville Middle School has declined steadily from the 40th to the 26th percentile over three years and now holds a 1-star rating, with the highest chronic absenteeism rate in the district at 23.4% and proficiency levels far below state averages in every subject. Scott High School also carries a 1-star rating, ranking in the 29th percentile, and faces serious challenges: only 7% of students are proficient in Algebra I, the graduation rate is 86.5% versus the state's 90.5%, and the dropout rate is 10.1%. Overall, the city shows a clear divide between its strong elementary schools and struggling secondary schools, with attendance patterns closely tracking academic performance. That said, Huntsville Elementary's rapid improvement demonstrates that meaningful gains are possible, making the elementary schools the clear bright spots while the middle and high schools need the most urgent attention.