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Carter High School

Q: Is Carter High School a good school?

Carter High School ranks 247 th of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

247^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 38% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Carter High School is a traditional public high school in Strawberry Plains, TN, serving 749 students in grades 9–12 as part of Knox County Schools. The school currently ranks in the 38th percentile statewide, placing it in the lower-middle tier of Tennessee high schools.

Attendance and graduation are the most pressing concerns. Carter's chronic absenteeism rate is 28.5%, notably higher than the district rate of 19.4% and the state rate of 18.3%. The graduation rate has slipped to 86.8%, down from 93–94% earlier in the decade, while the dropout rate has climbed to 9.6%. Nearby Gibbs High School (24.8% absenteeism) and Career Magnet Academy (12.5% absenteeism) demonstrate that better attendance is achievable in the same region. Academically, math remains the weakest area, with only 9.4% of students proficient in Algebra I compared to roughly 29% statewide. English II is a relative bright spot, with 57% proficiency nearly matching the state average and outperforming several nearby schools.

There are encouraging signs beneath the overall numbers. Carter ranks in the 69th percentile for Hispanic students, a clear strength, while outcomes for other student groups lag. Test results also reveal strong pockets of success: 10th graders scored 66.7% proficient in Algebra II and 63.4% in Biology I, suggesting that students in accelerated pathways are thriving. The school spends $14,475 per student, more than higher-performing neighbors like Central High School and Career Magnet Academy. While Seymour High School and Career Magnet clearly outperform Carter, it fares better than Austin East High/Magnet School on nearly every metric. The central challenge is clear: reducing absenteeism and supporting struggling students while building on the successes already evident in accelerated coursework and English II.

749

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,475

Per pupil spending ?

55%

Free/discounted lunch ?

210 N Carter School Road
Strawberry Plains, TN 37871

(865) 933-3434

District: Knox County Schools

Feeder schools for Carter High School:

Elementary:	Carter Elementary School
	Chilhowee Intermediate School
	East Knox Elementary School
	Sunnyview Primary School
Middle:	Carter Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.8%

Hispanic:

10.4%

African American:

6.5%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Carter High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 45th percentile in 2016 → 38th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (35% vs 45% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (28% vs 18% Tennessee)

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg48%

Tennessee avg45%

247^th of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 45% (2016) to bottom 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 17High Schools in the Knox County Schools

78^th of 141Knox 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	38.3	247 of 400	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.8	211 of 389	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.5	238 of 392	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.8	249 of 384	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.4	261 of 358	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.4	212 of 347	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.2	242 of 342	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.2	249 of 341	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	53.9	106 of 273	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	44.8	192 of 351	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	69.6	71 of 300	76.3%	★★★★☆
2014	50.1	156 of 296	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	54.1	149 of 285	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	51.0	163 of 269	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	51.8	164 of 273	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	61.8	109 of 267	59.2%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	24.1	179 of 230	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.6	186 of 233	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.6	162 of 240	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.4	192 of 239	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.4	148 of 222	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.3	176 of 208	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.9	140 of 187	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.6	112 of 199	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	36.5	224 of 365	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.2	233 of 365	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.0	241 of 366	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.1	255 of 350	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.9	228 of 340	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.6	253 of 337	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	61.4	70 of 229	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.8	79 of 213	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	29.7	162 of 209	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	40.5	181 of 308	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.9	227 of 324	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.7	237 of 337	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.4	213 of 330	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.8	209 of 322	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.6	264 of 317	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.6	220 of 302	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.9	142 of 308	53.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	39.9	214 of 368	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.5	233 of 366	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.9	246 of 359	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.5	264 of 349	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.4	189 of 332	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.2	205 of 329	37.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	30.4	160 of 210	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.7	156 of 198	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.2	146 of 183	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	49.7	48 of 154	68.8%	★★★★☆
2022	34.4	103 of 151	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.3	78 of 125	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.3	71 of 127	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.4	59 of 159	62.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	26.1	264 of 330	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.4	213 of 323	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.9	244 of 326	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.5	254 of 325	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.5	278 of 312	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.4	222 of 306	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.7	255 of 301	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.7	267 of 307	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)69th percentile+31 vs school

Male (2025)42nd percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)41st percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)39th percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2026)24th percentile-14 vs school

African American (2026)22nd percentile-16 vs school

White (2026)20th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English II57%~ state avg

Biology I39%-11 vs state

US History35%-7 vs state

Geometry35%-7 vs state

English I24%-13 vs state

Algebra II22%-15 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, November 30, 2009

I have had two daughters to graduate from Carter High. I have a daughter there now. This is one of the best schools I have found in Knox County. Cheryl Hickman really knows what she is doing. Close Quote

Schools Near Carter 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	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 All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 10th 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 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II 11th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Carter High School	Public	9-12	210 N Carter School Road	Strawberry Plains	37871	Jefferson County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	No	(865) 933-3434	794	53	14.9		644 (81.1%)	54 (6.8%)	56 (7.1%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.2%)	38.3	247^th of 400 public high schools	38.3%		41.8	211^th of 389 public high schools	45.8%	36						66.7	9.4		22.4		63.4	30.8	39.2	35.8		35.3	24.1	23.9	57.4		57.0	59.5	28.0	35.1			$14,475	$880	$13,070
Jefferson Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	5-12	3081 West Old AJ Highway	Strawberry Plains	37871	Jefferson County	Jefferson County Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(865) 397-0780	58	9	6.2		48 (82.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (12.1%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.4%)								(n/a)	43.8	50.0																							68.8	60.0	$8,637	$163	$8,352
Career Magnet Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	7201 Strawberry Plains PIKE	Knoxville	37914	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(865) 594-1731	347	16	22.2		202 (58.2%)	58 (16.7%)	53 (15.3%)	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (7.8%)	60.1	126^th of 400 public high schools	68.5%		60.7	116^th of 389 public high schools	70.2%	10			21.4		21.1	48.8	23.6		34.7	63.5			65.9	36.4		41.2	60.5	59.8	83.8		82.6	86.2	27.1	44.4			$11,973	$674	$10,970
Gary Hardin Academy	Public	6-12	2540 Boyds Creek Road	Sevierville	37876	Sevier County	Sevier County Schools	No	No	No	No	(865) 453-8338	90	12	7.2		68 (75.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (21.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	10	376^th of 400 public high schools	6.0%		6.2	386^th of 389 public high schools	0.8%	10														16.7	20.0	16.7			11.8		25.0		12.5	10.5			$12,723	$475	$12,186
Northview Senior Academy	Public	10-12	2719 Northview Academy Lane	Kodak	37764	Sevier County	Sevier County Schools	No	No	No	No	(865) 933-5880	612	42	14.4		519 (84.8%)	9 (1.5%)	66 (10.8%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (2.3%)	28.2	293^rd of 400 public high schools	26.8%		26	299^th of 389 public high schools	23.1%	6						65.2	8.8		24.4		9.1		15.4	26.7		26.9			52.6		52.0		14.7	14.8			$16,719	$475	$15,467
Richard Yoakley School	Public	6-12	4415 Washington Pike	Knoxville	37917	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 594-3790	105	19	5.5		46 (43.8%)	34 (32.4%)	17 (16.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.6%)	3.6	400^th of 400 public high schools	0.0%		12.8	355^th of 389 public high schools	8.7%	45												9.1	13.6			6.3			5.3		9.5						$46,952	$2,986	$43,119
Austin East High/Magnet School	Public, Magnet	9-12	2800 M L King Jr Avenue	Knoxville	37914	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(865) 594-3792	666	64	10.3		59 (8.9%)	490 (73.6%)	73 (11.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	41 (6.2%)	8.4	384^th of 400 public high schools	4.0%		9.4	372^nd of 389 public high schools	4.4%	12			5.6	7.1	6.4	21.4	5.2		6.4		12.6	9.1	13.7	12.6		13.8	6.8	6.8	30.2	10.0	28.7		12.0	11.3			$19,014	$2,168	$16,285
Seymour High School	Public	10-12	732 Boyds Creek Road	Seymour	37865	Sevier County	Sevier County Schools	No	No	No	No	(865) 577-7040	730	59	12.3		656 (89.9%)	5 (0.7%)	46 (6.3%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.2%)	61.5	118^th of 400 public high schools	70.5%		56	143^rd of 389 public high schools	63.2%	25							22.2		40.6					42.6		44.7			71.0		70.8		42.0	41.5			$15,829	$475	$14,546
Tennessee School for the Deaf High School	Public	9-12	2725 Island Home Boulevard	Knoxville	37920	Knox County	Tennessee Schools for the Deaf	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 440-8195	63	20	3.1		19 (30.2%)	20 (31.7%)	12 (19.0%)	7 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	4 (6.3%)								(n/a)
Gibbs High School	Public	9-12	7628 Tazewell Pike	Corryton	37721	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	No	(865) 689-9130	1,047	70	14.9		895 (85.5%)	40 (3.8%)	58 (5.5%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (4.8%)	54.7	159^th of 400 public high schools	60.3%		42.9	206^th of 389 public high schools	47.0%	47			26.8		25.8	71.2	23.8	6.3	34.0		78.5	37.7	53.9	36.6		36.3	32.9	32.8	55.6		54.9	86.7	41.7	46.6			$13,296	$792	$12,060

Frequently Asked Questions about Carter High School

What schools feed into Carter High School?

Carter High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Carter Elementary School
Elementary : Chilhowee Intermediate School
Elementary : East Knox Elementary School
Elementary : Sunnyview Primary School
Middle : Carter Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Carter High School?

Students at Carter High School are 78% White, 10% Hispanic, 7% African American, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Carter High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 749 students attended Carter High School.

What district is Carter High School in?

Knox County Schools

Is Carter High School a good school?

Carter High School ranks 247^th of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Carter 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.