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Brainerd High School

Q: Is Brainerd High School a good school?

Brainerd High School ranks in the bottom 10.8% of Tennessee high schools.

Q: How many students attend Brainerd High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 739 students attended Brainerd High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Brainerd High School?

Students at Brainerd High School are 68% African American, 22% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% White.

Q: What schools feed into Brainerd High School?

Brainerd High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Barger Academy of Fine Arts Elementary : Hardy Elementary School Elementary : Woodmore Elementary School Middle : Dalewood Middle School

Public Grades 9-12

357^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 11% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Brainerd High School is a traditional public high school in Chattanooga, TN, serving 739 students in grades 9–12 within Hamilton County Schools. The school has consistently ranked near the bottom of Tennessee high schools, placing at the 11th percentile statewide in 2025–2026, and it has never exceeded that mark in its available ranking history. Academic proficiency is far below district and state averages: just 7.1% of students scored proficient in Algebra I, 10.2% in Geometry, and 21.8% in Biology I.

The gap between Brainerd High School and nearby high-performing schools is stark. Within about six miles, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (99th percentile), Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State (98th percentile), STEM School Chattanooga (95th percentile), and Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper (84th percentile) all post proficiency rates above 70% in most subjects. The school, by contrast, sits in a lower-performing cluster alongside The Howard School, East Ridge High School, and Chattanooga Preparatory School. Notably, the school spends more per student ($18,581) than several of these top-performing schools, suggesting that resource allocation and instructional strategy matter at least as much as total funding.

There are genuine signs of progress. Brainerd High School's graduation rate improved from 74.8% in 2020–2021 to 86.1% in 2024–2025, while the dropout rate fell from roughly 18% to 9.0% and chronic absenteeism dropped from 69.3% to 42.7% over the same period. Those rates remain well above state averages, and academic proficiency has not shown the same consistent improvement. Hispanic students at the school have performed meaningfully better than other subgroups, ranking at the 38th percentile in 2025–2026, while special education outcomes have declined sharply. The central challenge is clear: the school is doing better at keeping students in school, but translating that into academic mastery remains the work ahead.

739

Students ?

15.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,581

Per pupil spending ?

87.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1020 N Moore Road
Chattanooga, TN 37411

(423) 855-2615

District: Hamilton County Schools

Feeder schools for Brainerd High School:

Elementary:	Barger Academy of Fine Arts
	Hardy Elementary School
	Woodmore Elementary School
Middle:	Dalewood Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

67.8%

Hispanic:

21.5%

Two or more races:

6.5%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Brainerd High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 4th percentile in 2015 → 11th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (16% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (43% vs 18% Tennessee)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school16%

District avg45%

Tennessee avg44%

357^th of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 11%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 5% (2016) to bottom 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

20^th of 21High Schools in the Hamilton County Schools

81^st of 141Hamilton 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	14.0	357 of 400	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	12.1	359 of 389	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.2	381 of 392	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.3	358 of 384	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.4	341 of 358	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.7	310 of 347	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	5.4	340 of 342	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.8	329 of 341	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	8.7	335 of 351	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	16.2	287 of 300	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	7.4	293 of 296	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	14.1	279 of 285	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	0.7	269 of 269	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	1.8	271 of 273	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	20.1	247 of 267	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	15.0	213 of 230	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.7	221 of 233	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.7	238 of 240	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	200 of 239	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.3	221 of 222	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.0	185 of 208	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.6	186 of 199	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	12.6	340 of 365	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.6	356 of 365	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.1	349 of 366	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.8	335 of 350	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.6	336 of 340	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.1	326 of 337	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	37.5	142 of 229	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.5	152 of 213	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	45.4	98 of 209	53.1%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	13.8	26 of 26	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	18.6	284 of 308	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.8	310 of 324	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.2	325 of 337	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.6	289 of 330	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	8.9	316 of 322	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.6	303 of 317	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.3	300 of 302	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.7	297 of 308	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	10.2	349 of 368	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.6	356 of 366	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.1	330 of 359	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.4	315 of 349	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.3	292 of 332	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	8.0	324 of 329	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	18.2	205 of 210	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	54.5	40 of 159	74.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)38th percentile+27 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)8th percentile-3 vs school

African American (2026)7th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)7th percentile~ school

Male (2025)5th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)2nd percentile-8 vs school

Homeless (2025)<1st percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English II22%-36 vs state

Biology I22%-28 vs state

Algebra II22%-16 vs state

US History12%-31 vs state

Geometry10%-32 vs state

Algebra I7%-25 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Thursday, March 12, 2015

In the four years I've been at this school, I've never seen worse conduct coming from the students or the teachers. A great percentage of the students like to play and hang out in the halls rather than finish their assignments, and a lot of the teachers are too frivolous to properly punish them. One of them acts out almost as bad as the students, and even invokes bad behavior from the students occasionally. I'm actually one of Brainerd's better students, and seeing how poorly the school fares, while it doesn't surprise me, breaks my heart. Close Quote

Schools Near Brainerd 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	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2016)	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 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 8th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 9th 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 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 All Grades	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	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
Brainerd High School	Public	9-12	1020 N Moore Road	Chattanooga	37411	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 855-2615	732	46	15.8	87.1%	28 (3.8%)	555 (75.8%)	107 (14.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (5.7%)	14	357^th of 400 public high schools	10.8%		12.1	359^th of 389 public high schools	7.7%	2										7.1		7.1	50.0	15.4		21.5		24.5		21.8		8.3	11.5			24.2	22.0		11.5	10.2									$18,581	$1,552	$16,507
East Ridge High School	Public	9-12	4320 Bennett Road	Chattanooga	37412	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 867-6200	928	65	14.1	84.3%	183 (19.7%)	214 (23.1%)	464 (50.0%)	9 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (6.3%)	20.2	335^th of 400 public high schools	16.3%		21.8	320^th of 389 public high schools	17.7%	15										11.3		11.6	46.2	14.3		16.3		30.4	35.7	31.6	22.7	21.9	22.1	22.4	22.3	33.3	27.6	81.0	18.3	24.9									$18,264	$1,026	$16,678
Chattanooga Preparatory School	Public, Charter	6-12	1815 Union Avenue	Chattanooga	37404	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(423) 602-7737	474	22	21.7		17 (3.6%)	254 (53.6%)	179 (37.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.9%)	11.2	368^th of 400 public high schools	8.0%		16.8	340^th of 389 public high schools	12.6%	28	17.2	13.0	28.0	19.5		9.1	14.6	9.3					35.0			11.3	30.9			32.9				10.3	10.0	42.3	43.4	20.6		10.4	20.7	25.0	18.3	21.2	11.5	37.7	46.3	31.3	$19,907	$577	$18,562
Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	1802 Bailey Avenue	Chattanooga	37404	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(423) 702-7230	337	34	9.9		16 (4.7%)	136 (40.4%)	173 (51.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	52	181^st of 400 public high schools	54.8%		60	127^th of 389 public high schools	67.4%	54	30.0	44.8	29.2	34.7	18.6	25.9	35.4	26.4		33.3		54.7		23.3		32.4			41.2	41.2				38.6	38.6	50.0	50.0	85.7	16.7	41.0	28.6	32.8	29.2	30.1	22.9	51.7	40.0	37.3	$20,255	$610	$18,817
Tyner Middle High Academy	Public	6-12	6836 Tyner Road	Chattanooga	37421	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(423) 855-2635																			(n/a)	13.7	16.0	39.1	23.4	10.4	9.6	9.7	9.9		29.2		28.9	50.0	32.2		33.1	14.3	50.3		46.4			5.4	12.3	12.1	57.0	52.0	10.5	46.9	42.5	21.1	18.7	39.4	26.8	14.5	30.9	40.6	29.3
Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper	Public	6-12	865 E 3rd Street	Chattanooga	37403	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 498-6845	733	43	17.0	27.6%	391 (53.3%)	209 (28.5%)	31 (4.2%)	44 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (7.9%)	74.8	64^th of 400 public high schools	84.0%		65.1	94^th of 389 public high schools	75.8%	30	48.0	61.0	61.7	55.9	52.5	46.0	65.7	54.9	74.1	30.0		59.6	79.7	42.4		68.5		66.0		63.9				60.2	60.2	87.4	87.4	61.5	21.2	49.5	55.4	63.0	78.1	65.7	65.3	76.8	81.9	74.8	$16,140	$750	$15,031
Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State	Public	9-12	4501 Amnicola Highway	Chattanooga	37406	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 697-4492	135	4	38.5	0.0%	93 (68.9%)	6 (4.4%)	17 (12.6%)	6 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (9.6%)	95.2	9^th of 400 public high schools	97.8%					(n/a)													94.7	87.1		90.2																							$12,567	$574	$11,967
STEM School Chattanooga	Public	9-12	4501 Amnicola Highway	Chattanooga	37406	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 531-6270	273	20	13.7	33.5%	159 (58.2%)	51 (18.7%)	24 (8.8%)	8 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (11.4%)	89.4	19^th of 400 public high schools	95.3%		92.2	15^th of 389 public high schools	96.1%	4										27.7		27.7	94.4	51.0		64.3			71.6	71.6				57.3	57.3	87.3	87.3	92.6	78.6	83.1									$16,773	$568	$16,180
The Howard School	Public	9-12	2500 South Market Street	Chattanooga	37408	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 498-6850	1,501	99	15.1	89.7%	20 (1.3%)	499 (33.2%)	935 (62.3%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (3.0%)	15.6	350^th of 400 public high schools	12.5%		11.1	363^rd of 389 public high schools	6.7%	13											8.3			7.7	6.3	8.3		23.9		21.6				8.2	6.7	34.4	25.7		24.7	24.0									$19,360	$1,381	$17,452
Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence High	Public, Charter	9-12	201 E. 37th Street	Chattanooga	37410	Hamilton County	Hamilton County Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(423) 702-2273	95	6	15.2		2 (2.1%)	58 (61.1%)	33 (34.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	14.3	355^th of 400 public high schools	11.3%		8.8	377^th of 389 public high schools	3.1%	22																		26.5		25.7				6.7	6.4	39.4	38.2		14.7	14.7									$20,674	$568	$19,158

Frequently Asked Questions about Brainerd High School

What is the racial makeup of Brainerd High School?

Students at Brainerd High School are 68% African American, 22% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% White.

What schools feed into Brainerd High School?

Brainerd High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Barger Academy of Fine Arts
Elementary : Hardy Elementary School
Elementary : Woodmore Elementary School
Middle : Dalewood Middle School

Is Brainerd High School a good school?

Brainerd High School ranks in the bottom 10.8% of Tennessee high schools.

What district is Brainerd High School in?

Hamilton County Schools

How many students attend Brainerd High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 739 students attended Brainerd High School.

Rate Brainerd High School!

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresNewAug 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.