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Karns High School

Q: Is Karns High School a good school?

Karns High School ranks 191 st of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

191^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 389 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 51% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Karns High School is a public high school located in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,341 students. The school is part of the Knox County school district, which is ranked 77 out of 139 districts in Tennessee and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Karns High School's academic performance has been inconsistent, with its statewide ranking fluctuating between 62nd out of 351 Tennessee high schools in 2015-2016 (4-star rating) to 232nd out of 392 in 2023-2024 (2-star rating). The school's test scores are generally lower than the Knox County and Tennessee averages across various subjects and grade levels, with proficiency rates in Algebra I (8.7%), Algebra II (24.1%), and English I (37.5%) significantly below the county and state averages. Additionally, Karns High School's four-year graduation rate has ranged from 86.5% to 90.3% in recent years, which is slightly lower than the state average, and the school has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 18.9% to 24.0% in recent years.

When compared to nearby schools in the Knox County district, such as Farragut High School and Bearden High School, Karns High School generally performs worse on key metrics like test scores, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism. The school's performance also varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Hispanic students and students from low socio-economic backgrounds performing much lower than the school's overall ranking, indicating potential equity concerns that the school and district may need to address.

1,365

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,677

Per pupil spending ?

36.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2710 Byington Solway RD
Knoxville, TN 37931

(865) 539-8670

District: Knox County

Feeder schools for Karns High School:

Elementary:	Amherst Elementary School
	Karns Elementary
	Pleasant Ridge Elementary
Middle:	Karns Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.1%

Hispanic:

19.9%

African American:

7.8%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Karns High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 51st percentile in 2015 → 51st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Tennessee median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Dropout rate above the Tennessee average (10% vs 7%)

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

!Algebra I scores 21 pts below the Tennessee average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school35%

District avg44%

Tennessee avg40%

191^st of 389

Tennessee public high schools ?

Top 49%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^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	46.4	191 of 389	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.7	232 of 392	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.9	179 of 384	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.0	182 of 358	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.2	189 of 347	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.7	164 of 342	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.8	188 of 341	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.1	156 of 273	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	69.2	62 of 351	82.3%	★★★★☆
2015	57.7	146 of 300	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	57.6	115 of 296	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	55.2	144 of 285	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	56.8	143 of 269	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	60.1	122 of 273	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	52.5	152 of 267	43.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	37.5	134 of 233	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.6	127 of 240	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.1	128 of 239	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.9	99 of 222	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.3	132 of 208	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.0	67 of 187	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	33.7	117 of 199	41.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	47.0	179 of 365	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.8	236 of 365	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.6	230 of 366	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.4	222 of 350	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.2	199 of 340	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.6	175 of 337	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	27.2	171 of 213	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.2	147 of 209	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.4	133 of 202	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.3	147 of 189	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.3	130 of 180	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.0	123 of 153	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.7	125 of 159	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	39.7	189 of 324	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.9	224 of 337	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.7	248 of 330	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	52.6	114 of 322	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.8	147 of 317	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.2	166 of 302	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.9	176 of 308	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	42.0	203 of 368	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.7	212 of 366	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.1	177 of 359	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.9	138 of 349	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.4	198 of 332	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.9	150 of 329	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	34.2	120 of 198	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.8	105 of 183	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.8	32 of 154	79.2%	★★★★☆
2022	39.6	81 of 151	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.6	58 of 125	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	24.7	142 of 159	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	45.7	165 of 323	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.5	208 of 326	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.7	169 of 325	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.6	167 of 312	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.3	182 of 306	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.4	148 of 301	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.0	175 of 307	43.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)51st percentile~ school

White (2025)49th percentile~ school

Male (2025)45th percentile-6 vs school

African American (2025)42nd percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)42nd percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2025)39th percentile-12 vs school

Hispanic (2025)20th percentile-31 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Biology I70%+24 vs state

English II60%+6 vs state

US History41%~ state avg

English I38%~ state avg

Geometry30%-7 vs state

Algebra II24%-10 vs state

Algebra I9%-21 vs state

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Schools Near Karns 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 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 9th Grade	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 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 All Grades	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 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
Karns High School	Public	9-12	2710 Byington Solway RD	Knoxville	37931	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 539-8670	1,341	90	14.9		906 (67.6%)	111 (8.3%)	235 (17.5%)	10 (0.7%)	6 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	72 (5.4%)	46.4	191^st of 389 public high schools	50.9%		37.7	232^nd of 392 public high schools	40.8%	41				8.9		8.7		82.4	13.5		24.1		76.8	50.0		69.9	41.3		40.8	37.6		37.5	61.8			60.0	83.3	20.7		30.0							$12,677	$897	$11,349
Hardin Valley Academy	Public	9-12	11345 Hardin Valley RD	Knoxville	37932	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 690-9690	2,043	123	16.6		1,441 (70.5%)	118 (5.8%)	288 (14.1%)	82 (4.0%)	3 (0.1%)	9 (0.4%)	102 (5.0%)	67.2	85^th of 389 public high schools	78.1%		62.7	107^th of 392 public high schools	72.7%	22				27.9	6.7	25.8		90.4	19.7	9.1	40.1		77.5	52.1		63.2	41.9	53.3	42.5	53.0	8.3	51.6	65.4	23.1		63.8		26.7	5.3	42.6							$11,388	$708	$10,399
Bearden High School	Public	9-12	8352 Kingston PIKE	Knoxville	37919	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 539-7800	2,008	114	17.5		1,421 (70.8%)	172 (8.6%)	247 (12.3%)	61 (3.0%)	2 (0.1%)	3 (0.1%)	102 (5.1%)	69.4	81^st of 389 public high schools	79.2%		65.9	92^nd of 392 public high schools	76.5%	11				19.6	5.3	17.7		87.9	32.7		49.5	93.8	33.3	49.0	35.3	61.1	45.1		45.3	55.0		53.6	64.6	16.7		62.8	91.3	33.4	13.3	45.2							$11,936	$819	$10,844
Ridgedale Alternative School	Public	6-12	4600 Ridgedale RD	Knoxville	37921	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 909-9099	75	24	3.1		40 (53.3%)	20 (26.7%)	6 (8.0%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (10.7%)								(n/a)	18.2	6.3	9.1																												8.3	12.5	6.3	8.3	12.5	7.7
Farragut High School	Public	9-12	11237 Kingston PIKE	Knoxville	37922	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 966-9775	2,091	113	18.5		1,601 (76.6%)	58 (2.8%)	145 (6.9%)	208 (9.9%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	77 (3.7%)	92.4	13^th of 389 public high schools	96.7%		92.7	12^th of 392 public high schools	96.9%	1				39.0	10.5	37.4			63.7		77.2	73.9	33.3	70.8		71.7	76.9		76.8	70.8		70.8	83.8			83.0		54.0	25.0	68.0							$10,955	$759	$10,036
Powell High School	Public	9-12	2136 West Emory RD	Powell	37849	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 938-2171	1,292	80	16.1		868 (67.2%)	111 (8.6%)	223 (17.3%)	23 (1.8%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (5.0%)	51.2	171^st of 389 public high schools	56.0%		47.5	186^th of 392 public high schools	52.6%	15				11.2		10.8			19.2		31.2		73.4	36.9		44.4	43.3		43.2	41.4		41.4	57.3		10.5	52.6		25.8		34.4							$13,352	$906	$11,906
Oak Ridge High School	Public	9-12	1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike	Oak Ridge	37830	Anderson County	Oak Ridge	No	No	No	No	(865) 425-9601	1,586	103	15.3		1,097 (69.2%)	168 (10.6%)	177 (11.2%)	45 (2.8%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	91 (5.7%)	75.2	56^th of 389 public high schools	85.6%		75.6	53^rd of 392 public high schools	86.5%	3				33.5		32.0	88.0	83.5	32.8	25.0	49.3	91.4	34.8	20.0		61.8	62.1		62.5	48.3	25.0	47.4	71.8	18.8		69.7		34.4	19.4	48.3							$14,330	$505	$13,356
Clinton High School	Public	9-12	425 Dragon DR	Clinton	37716	Anderson County	Anderson County	No	No	No	No	(865) 457-2611	1,073	73	14.7		933 (87.0%)	40 (3.7%)	61 (5.7%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	29 (2.7%)	58.5	134^th of 389 public high schools	65.6%		54.6	142^nd of 392 public high schools	63.8%	8				29.2		27.6		90.9	19.6	9.5	34.8	90.7	33.9	5.6		43.7	39.8		40.2	41.0		40.1	58.3	30.0		56.6		36.4	7.7	39.7							$12,920	$574	$11,933
West High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	3300 Sutherland AVE	Knoxville	37919	Knox County	Knox County	No	Yes	No	No	(865) 594-4477	1,509	88	17.0		876 (58.1%)	312 (20.7%)	196 (13.0%)	34 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.3%)	86 (5.7%)	62.6	108^th of 389 public high schools	72.2%		57	134^th of 392 public high schools	65.8%	26				16.6		14.5		82.6	11.2	8.3	42.3	82.5	75.5	28.3		62.7	47.0		45.7	55.6		55.6	61.8			60.6	94.7	17.5		42.6							$12,616	$827	$11,481
Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy	Public	9-12	535 Chickamauga Avenue AVE	Knoxville	37917	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 525-0069	72	10	7.2		39 (54.2%)	20 (27.8%)	10 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.2%)								(n/a)																																					$34,515	$1,011	$33,156

Frequently Asked Questions about Karns High School

What schools feed into Karns High School?

Karns High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Amherst Elementary School
Elementary : Karns Elementary
Elementary : Pleasant Ridge Elementary
Middle : Karns Middle School

Is Karns High School a good school?

Karns High School ranks 191^st of 389 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Karns High School in?

Knox County

How many students attend Karns High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,365 students attended Karns High School.

What is the racial makeup of Karns High School?

Students at Karns High School are 65% White, 20% Hispanic, 8% African American, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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Schools in Knoxville, TN

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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.