Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Carter High School

Q: Is Carter High School a good school?

Carter High School ranks 211 th of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

211^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 389 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 46% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Carter High School is a public high school located in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, serving 794 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Knox County school district, which is ranked 77 out of 139 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Carter High School has a relatively high per-student spending of $12,941, it consistently underperforms compared to the Knox County and Tennessee state averages across various subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 9.4% of Carter High School students were proficient or better in Algebra I, compared to 28.7% in Knox County and 29.4% statewide. The school also has a lower four-year graduation rate (89.2% in 2023-2024) and a higher dropout rate (6.7% in 2023-2024) than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools, Carter High School performs better than some, such as Richard Yoakley School and Austin East High/Magnet, which rank in the bottom 10% of Tennessee high schools. However, it lags behind other nearby schools like Seymour High School and Career Magnet Academy, which have higher academic achievement and graduation rates. Addressing the high rates of chronic absenteeism and the socioeconomic challenges faced by a significant portion of the student population could be crucial for improving student outcomes at Carter High School.

749

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,475

Per pupil spending ?

55%

Free/discounted lunch ?

210 N Carter School RD
Strawberry Plains, TN 37871

(865) 933-3434

District: Knox County

Feeder schools for Carter High School:

Elementary:	Carter Elementary
	Chilhowee Intermediate
	East Knox Elementary
	Sunnyview Primary
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: Rebounding — 27th percentile in 2018 → 46th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 46th (2025) from a 27th-percentile low (2018)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (32% vs 40% meeting standards)

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

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school32%

District avg44%

Tennessee avg40%

211^th of 389

Tennessee public high schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 31 pts since 2015

From top 24% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

13^th of 16High Schools in the Knox County

77^th of 139Knox 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	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
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
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
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
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
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 (2025)63rd percentile+17 vs school

Male (2025)42nd percentile-4 vs school

Female (2025)39th percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)34th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)30th percentile-16 vs school

Special Education (2025)21st percentile-25 vs school

African American (2025)20th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

English II51%-4 vs state

Biology I39%-6 vs state

US History37%~ state avg

English I34%-6 vs state

Algebra II27%-7 vs state

Geometry23%-14 vs state

Algebra I9%-20 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Carter High School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

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

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 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 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	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 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 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 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	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
Carter High School	Public	9-12	210 N Carter School RD	Strawberry Plains	37871	Knox County	Knox County	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%)	41.8	211^th of 389 public high schools	45.8%		36.5	238^th of 392 public high schools	39.3%	27					10.1	9.4	64.3	17.0	27.1		60.0	34.1	39.4	37.1	37.0	34.7	33.5	51.8		50.8	69.2	13.2		23.0					$14,475	$880	$13,070
Jefferson Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	5-12	3081 West Old AJ HWY	Strawberry Plains	37871	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	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)	27.3	27.3	27.3	40.9										10.0	10.0										27.3	45.5	18.2	27.3	$8,637	$163	$8,352
Career Magnet Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	7201 Strawberry Plains PIKE	Knoxville	37914	Knox County	Knox County	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%)	60.7	116^th of 389 public high schools	70.2%		54.5	143^rd of 392 public high schools	63.5%	27					7.9	7.4	64.0	26.7	39.1	70.9			69.1	33.3	40.9	56.0	54.1	84.0		84.0	60.0	28.8		40.6					$11,973	$674	$10,970
Gary Hardin Academy	Public	6-12	2540 Boyds Creek RD	Sevierville	37876	Sevier County	Sevier County	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%)	6.2	386^th of 389 public high schools	0.8%					(n/a)														8.7	9.7			23.5		28.6									$12,723	$475	$12,186
Northview Senior Academy	Public	10-12	2719 Northview Academy LN	Kodak	37764	Sevier County	Sevier County	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%)	26	299^th of 389 public high schools	23.1%		27	290^th of 392 public high schools	26.0%	9							63.2	6.5	18.2					25.9	25.8			47.3		46.8		10.5		9.7					$16,719	$475	$15,467
Richard Yoakley School	Public	6-12	4415 Washington PIKE	Knoxville	37917	Knox County	Knox County	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%)	12.8	355^th of 389 public high schools	8.7%		6.4	385^th of 392 public high schools	1.8%	30											23.1		13.0		7.7			23.8		21.7									$46,952	$2,986	$43,119
Austin East High/Magnet	Public, Magnet	9-12	2800 M L King Jr AVE	Knoxville	37914	Knox County	Knox County	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%)	9.4	372^nd of 389 public high schools	4.4%		6.4	386^th of 392 public high schools	1.5%	14										35.3	11.9	5.3	13.2	12.2	11.8	14.3	16.1	30.0	5.6	27.4	21.4	5.1		5.7					$19,014	$2,168	$16,285
Seymour High School	Public	10-12	732 Boyds Creek RD	Seymour	37865	Sevier County	Sevier County	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%)	56	143^rd of 389 public high schools	63.2%		51.4	161^st of 392 public high schools	58.9%	18							86.1	20.8	42.0				25.0	42.1	42.3			63.2		63.6		22.8	18.2	22.4					$15,829	$475	$14,546
Tennessee School for the Deaf High School	Public	9-12	2725 Island Home BLVD	Knoxville	37920	Knox County	Tennessee Schools for the Deaf	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 579-2500	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	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%)	42.9	206^th of 389 public high schools	47.0%		36.6	237^th of 392 public high schools	39.5%	31					18.8	18.2	54.2	8.6	19.4		62.9	48.1	51.5	24.7	24.8	38.4	38.4	46.3		46.3	78.2	16.9	20.8	30.4					$13,296	$792	$12,060

Frequently Asked Questions about Carter High 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.

Is Carter High School a good school?

Carter High School ranks 211^th of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Carter High School?

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

What schools feed into Carter High School?

Carter High School is fed by the following schools:

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

What district is Carter High School in?

Knox County

Rate Carter High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

TNTennessee High School Rankings

TNTennessee District Rankings

Schools in Strawberry Plains, TN

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Carter High School!

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.