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De Kalb County High School

Q: Is De Kalb County High School a good school?

De Kalb County High School ranks 232 nd of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend De Kalb County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 781 students attended De Kalb County High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of De Kalb County High School?

Students at De Kalb County High School are 76% White, 18% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Q: What schools feed into De Kalb County High School?

De Kalb County High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : DeKalb West Elementary School Elementary : Northside Elementary School Elementary : Smithville Elementary School Middle : DeKalb Middle School

Public Grades 9-12

232^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 42% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

De Kalb County High School is a public high school in Smithville, Tennessee, serving 781 students in grades 9–12 as the sole high school in the DeKalb County Schools district. The school currently ranks 232nd out of 400 Tennessee high schools (42nd percentile, 2 stars) for the 2025–2026 school year, placing it ahead of Cannon County High School but behind Gordonsville High School, Watertown High School, and Upperman High School.

In most subjects, De Kalb County High School trails state averages. Biology I proficiency is 29.1% versus the state's 49.8%, and U.S. History proficiency sits at just 19.1% compared with 42.4% statewide. Yet there are notable strengths: English II proficiency reached 54.9%, close to the state average, and students taking Algebra I in 9th grade or Algebra II in 10th grade outperform their peers statewide. Low-income students also fare comparatively well, ranking in the 57th percentile statewide—well above the school's overall standing. However, male students have consistently outperformed female students over the past several years, an unusual pattern that suggests girls at the school may need additional support.

The school's most pressing challenges are attendance and graduation. Chronic absenteeism affects 23.0% of students—well above the state rate of 18.3% and the district average of 15.2%, and tied with Upperman High School for the highest among nearby schools. The graduation rate of 86.9% is the lowest among comparable neighboring schools and below the state average of 90.5%. Per-student spending of $12,646 is mid-range for the area, yet academic outcomes have not shown consistent year-over-year improvement. Reducing chronic absenteeism appears to be the clearest path toward improving test scores, graduation rates, and overall performance at this school.

781

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,646

Per pupil spending ?

27.7%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

1130 West Broad Street
Smithville, TN 37166

(615) 597-4094

District: DeKalb County Schools

Feeder schools for De Kalb County High School:

Elementary:	DeKalb West Elementary School
	Northside Elementary School
	Smithville Elementary School
Middle:	DeKalb Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.3%

Hispanic:

17.8%

Two or more races:

3.7%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare De Kalb County High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 43rd percentile in 2016 → 42nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (32% vs 43% meeting standards)

!US History scores 23 pts below the Tennessee average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg32%

Tennessee avg43%

232^nd of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

96^th of 141DeKalb County Schools 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
2026	42.7	232 of 400	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.1	256 of 389	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.9	199 of 392	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.6	244 of 384	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	202 of 358	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.5	235 of 347	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.2	225 of 342	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.1	153 of 341	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	44.5	143 of 273	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.1	200 of 351	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	53.2	171 of 300	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	39.1	216 of 296	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	40.6	220 of 285	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	53.3	156 of 269	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	66.7	89 of 273	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	68.2	80 of 267	70.0%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2022	59.5	51 of 222	77.0%	★★★★☆
2021	40.0	111 of 208	46.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	28.3	273 of 365	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.1	207 of 365	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.0	272 of 366	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.6	210 of 350	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.5	242 of 340	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.2	236 of 337	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2022	70.5	3 of 11	72.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	35.8	148 of 229	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.9	142 of 213	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.1	156 of 209	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.0	161 of 202	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.1	114 of 189	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.8	109 of 180	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.5	95 of 153	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.2	96 of 159	39.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	50.5	132 of 308	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.1	174 of 324	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.0	110 of 337	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.0	210 of 330	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.8	107 of 322	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.0	145 of 317	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	24.2	253 of 302	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	52.7	94 of 308	69.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	37.0	226 of 368	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.1	184 of 366	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.1	191 of 359	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.6	190 of 349	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.3	241 of 332	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.4	211 of 329	35.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	38.6	123 of 210	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.5	75 of 183	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	18.7	146 of 154	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	48.6	41 of 125	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.7	39 of 159	75.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	34.8	223 of 330	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.9	254 of 323	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.0	192 of 326	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.5	237 of 325	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.9	221 of 312	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.0	243 of 306	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.1	243 of 301	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.7	167 of 307	45.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

African American (2022)77th percentile+33 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2022)73rd percentile+29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)57th percentile+15 vs school

Special Education (2026)41st percentile~ school

Male (2025)39th percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2026)35th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)32nd percentile-10 vs school

Female (2025)25th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English II55%-3 vs state

Geometry33%-10 vs state

Biology I29%-21 vs state

Algebra I28%-5 vs state

English I27%-10 vs state

Algebra II25%-13 vs state

US History19%-23 vs state

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What people are saying

by a student
Monday, September 14, 2015

I went to this school for four years over ten years ago, so it could be better by now. A LOT of small town political issues take place in this school that unfortunately involve the students. (I know this can take place anywhere, but this is a WHOLE other level!)

I graduated over ten years ago, and I have not been back since. I was involved in numerous extracurricular activities, but at the end of the day it all came down to who you were or who your family is. There was a handful of good teachers who were really genuine and engaging in their students, but for the most part, it SUCKED for lack of better words. No guidance at all whatsoever. I didn't even know we had a guidance counselor until I was a senior. Lol Close Quote

Schools Near De Kalb 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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)			TNReady English Language Arts (2026)			TNReady Algebra I (2026)					TNReady Algebra II (2026)				TNReady Biology I (2026)					TNReady US History (2026)					TNReady English I (2026)					TNReady English II (2026)					TNReady Geometry (2026)					TNReady Science (2026)			TNReady Social Studies (2026)			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	Directly certified (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 12th 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 12th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady US History 9th Grade	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I 10th Grade	TNReady English I 11th Grade	TNReady English I 12th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 9th Grade	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II 11th Grade	TNReady English II 12th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry 12th 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
De Kalb County High School	Public	9-12	1130 West Broad Street	Smithville	37166	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(615) 597-4094	783	55	14.3	27.7%	603 (77.0%)	12 (1.5%)	131 (16.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	30 (3.8%)	42.7	232^nd of 400 public high schools	42.0%		34.1	256^th of 389 public high schools	34.2%	24							29.4	9.5			27.7	73.3	18.2		24.6		29.9			29.1			18.3		19.1	28.1				27.2		58.1			54.9		34.0			32.7							$12,646	$1,689	$10,144
De Kalb County Adult High School	Public	10-12	242 Tiger Drive	Smithville	37166	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 497-2254	1			—	1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
DeKalb County Schools Adult Education Virtual School	Public, Virtual	9-12	110 South Public Square	Smithville	37166	DeKalb County	DeKalb County Schools	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(615) 597-4084	0			—															(n/a)
Gordonsville High School	Public	7-12	110 Main Street East	Gordonsville	38563	Smith County	Smith County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 683-8245	532	36	14.5	17.2%	482 (90.6%)	9 (1.7%)	18 (3.4%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.2%)	55.7	151^st of 400 public high schools	62.3%		60.4	121^st of 389 public high schools	68.9%	30	34.8	51.9	43.9	33.3	38.0	35.8	27.8				27.6		34.2		32.9			58.8		58.1		64.3	25.5	54.5	37.5	26.0				25.8		63.0			62.1		34.1			33.7	58.0	64.6	61.5	63.8	63.3	63.5	$12,383	$554	$10,993
Cannon County High School	Public	9-12	1 Lion Drive	Woodbury	37190	Cannon County	Cannon County Schools	No	No	No	No	(629) 218-3197	533	37	14.3	16.9%	495 (92.9%)	10 (1.9%)	19 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.3%)	20.4	334^th of 400 public high schools	16.5%		23.4	309^th of 389 public high schools	20.6%	25							< 5%				< 5%	43.8	14.0		17.2	36.1	28.6			36.0						22.9				22.9		46.3			46.3	61.1	12.7			20.4							$12,052	$583	$10,911
Watertown High School	Public	9-12	9360 Sparta PIKE	Watertown	37184	Wilson County	Wilson County Schools	No	No	No	No	(615) 237-3434	660	44	15.0	11.7%	572 (86.7%)	25 (3.8%)	38 (5.8%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (3.0%)	58.7	140^th of 400 public high schools	65.0%		48.3	185^th of 389 public high schools	52.4%	45							29.1				28.5	93.9	23.1		37.8	92.9	57.3			62.5						37.9				37.4		60.0			60.0	≥ 95%	33.6			42.5							$13,597	$503	$12,488
Upperman High School	Public	9-12	6950 Nashville Highway	Baxter	38544	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	No	(931) 858-3112	918	46	19.8	44.6%	807 (87.9%)	23 (2.5%)	61 (6.6%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	23 (2.5%)	52.1	180^th of 400 public high schools	55.0%		37.5	232^nd of 389 public high schools	40.4%	52							20.6				20.6	≥ 95%	29.1		39.6			50.3		50.9						28.2				28.6	89.5	55.8	36.4		58.2	75.9	34.9	30.0		41.1							$11,388	$675	$10,117

Frequently Asked Questions about De Kalb County High School

What district is De Kalb County High School in?

DeKalb County Schools

What schools feed into De Kalb County High School?

De Kalb County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : DeKalb West Elementary School
Elementary : Northside Elementary School
Elementary : Smithville Elementary School
Middle : DeKalb Middle School

What is the racial makeup of De Kalb County High School?

Students at De Kalb County High School are 76% White, 18% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is De Kalb County High School a good school?

De Kalb County High School ranks 232^nd of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend De Kalb County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 781 students attended De Kalb County High School.

Rate De Kalb County High School!

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

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.