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Amherst Elementary School

Q: Is Amherst Elementary School a good school?

Amherst Elementary School ranks 353 rd of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

353^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,009 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 65% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Amherst Elementary School is a public elementary school in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving 692 students in grades PK-5. As part of the Knox County school district, Amherst Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state averages in academic proficiency across core subjects.

Amherst Elementary's academic performance is particularly noteworthy, with proficiency rates exceeding state averages in Mathematics (48.6% vs. 42.2%), English Language Arts (43.3% vs. 38.9%), and Science (52.1% vs. 46.1%). The school also stands out for its strong performance among African American and Hispanic student populations, ranking among the top elementary schools in Tennessee for these subgroups. Additionally, Amherst Elementary has seen a decrease in chronic absenteeism rates over the past few years, indicating improved student attendance.

Compared to nearby schools in the Knox County district, such as Cedar Bluff Elementary, Karns Elementary, and Pleasant Ridge Elementary, Amherst Elementary consistently outperforms in academic proficiency. This, combined with the school's increased per-student spending and focus on attendance, suggests a comprehensive approach to supporting student success.

683

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,020

Per pupil spending ?

44.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5101 Schaad RD
Knoxville, TN 37931

(865) 560-7001

District: Knox County

Students who attend Amherst Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Karns High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.1%

Hispanic:

16.5%

Two or more races:

11.4%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Amherst Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 41st percentile in 2014 → 65th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (48% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 24 percentile points since 2014

✓Above the Tennessee median (65th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school48%

District avg45%

Tennessee avg42%

353^rd of 1,009

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 7 pts since 2015

From top 42% (2015) to top 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

23^rd of 50Elementary 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	60.1	353 of 1009	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.9	402 of 1018	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	358 of 1020	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.4	418 of 1000	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.1	294 of 983	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	57.5	341 of 985	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.3	264 of 997	73.5%	★★★★☆
2017	29.7	520 of 646	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	59.4	357 of 855	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	45.2	500 of 853	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	62.7	355 of 846	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	60.9	332 of 820	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	74.0	197 of 818	75.9%	★★★★☆
2010	81.5	132 of 809	83.7%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	64.7	135 of 498	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	71.9	101 of 498	79.7%	★★★★☆
2023	79.4	70 of 500	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	67.4	99 of 483	79.5%	★★★★☆
2021	83.7	44 of 411	89.3%	★★★★☆
2019	58.5	127 of 404	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.7	102 of 450	77.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2023	52.6	52 of 164	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.2	141 of 165	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	49.5	39 of 101	61.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	62.4	299 of 986	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.4	389 of 990	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	340 of 989	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.9	391 of 975	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.9	227 of 945	76.0%	★★★★☆
2019	53.4	386 of 926	58.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	55.5	167 of 424	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.4	106 of 415	74.5%	★★★★☆
2023	67.1	98 of 387	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	45.4	182 of 363	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.8	102 of 324	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.3	110 of 250	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.3	154 of 319	51.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	47.0	448 of 843	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.2	287 of 853	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.1	142 of 865	83.6%	★★★★☆
2022	53.9	335 of 858	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.8	126 of 823	84.7%	★★★★☆
2019	60.4	227 of 821	72.4%	★★★★☆
2018	55.3	321 of 877	63.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	55.2	393 of 984	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.5	402 of 991	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.8	367 of 987	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.7	443 of 980	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.7	388 of 941	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.0	308 of 916	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	33.5	401 of 618	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.3	322 of 582	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.6	186 of 528	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.4	154 of 447	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.3	252 of 369	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.4	161 of 255	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.2	302 of 395	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	54.6	341 of 840	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.1	443 of 847	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.8	407 of 852	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.2	430 of 844	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.3	317 of 844	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.1	296 of 812	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.2	222 of 841	73.6%	★★★★☆

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 (2025)73rd percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)70th percentile+5 vs school

English Language Learner (2023)68th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)61st percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)60th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)59th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)47th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2025)35th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Science52%+6 vs state

Mathematics49%+6 vs state

English Language Arts43%+4 vs state

3.7

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 3, 2017

While Amherst has some amazing level 4/5 teachers, there is rampant bullying within this school and nothing is done about it. Not only is there student on student bullying there is teacher on student bullying and intimidation, and teacher on teacher bullying/intimidation...and if you go talk to the administration of this school they will tell you it is the first they've ever heard of this problem and your complaints will be swept under the rug. Then, when the next person complains it will, again, be the first time they've heard a thing about it. Not only do they seem to tolerate bullying, some teachers actively encourage it and engage in it, and the bullies seem to be rewarded for their bad behaviors. In addition certain teachers engage in retaliatory behaviors against students when they do not like a specific parent, child, or teacher...not only do they retaliate against that specific person's child...they retaliate against all of that child's friends as well. If they do not like a child's teacher, they treat that teacher's students poorly. Certain teachers yell at the children, call them stupid, call their work crap, throw things and kick objects within the classroom while "pitching a fit"/angry. Amherst used to be a really good school, but about 3 to 4 years ago they got a bunch of "newbie" teachers and it has been downhill ever since. As I said, Amherst does have some amazing teachers, but it also has far too many "stinkers". Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Friday, August 21, 2009

I love this school, it is AWSOME!!!!!!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Amherst Elementary 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 Science (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 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Amherst Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5101 Schaad RD	Knoxville	37931	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 560-7001	692	53	13.0		434 (62.7%)	57 (8.2%)	123 (17.8%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (10.8%)	60.1	353^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	65.0%		55.9	402^nd of 1018 public elementary schools	60.5%	49	38.2	47.2	60.4	48.6	39.2	49.4	42.2	43.3	51.0	57.3	48.5	52.1	$15,020	$933	$13,240
Karns Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8108 Beaver Ridge RD	Knoxville	37931	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 539-7767	1,047	67	15.5		755 (72.1%)	66 (6.3%)	142 (13.6%)	14 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	67 (6.4%)	61.5	345^th of 1009 public elementary schools	65.8%		59.1	357^th of 1018 public elementary schools	64.9%	12	44.6	56.9	50.0	50.4	45.2	53.1	34.7	44.6	54.2	53.8	45.0	51.2	$13,915	$799	$12,305
Karns Preschool	Public	PK-K	8108 Beaver Ridge RD	Knoxville	37931	Knox County	Knox County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(865) 539-7767	92	5	18.4		70 (76.1%)	6 (6.5%)	5 (5.4%)	3 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (8.7%)								(n/a)
Pleasant Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3013 Walnoaks RD	Knoxville	37921	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 594-1354	297	25	11.8		154 (51.9%)	33 (11.1%)	69 (23.2%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (12.8%)	65.5	291^st of 1009 public elementary schools	71.2%		56.2	399^th of 1018 public elementary schools	60.8%	108	51.1	39.0	52.8	47.5	44.4	48.8	50.0	47.5	62.2	65.9	44.4	58.2	$16,582	$1,207	$14,347
West Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	409 Vanosdale RD	Knoxville	37919	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 539-7850	721	50	14.4		406 (56.3%)	86 (11.9%)	131 (18.2%)	22 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	72 (10.0%)	66.7	277^th of 1009 public elementary schools	72.5%		66.6	265^th of 1018 public elementary schools	74.0%	12	48.6	42.5	51.4	47.9	51.4	52.9	47.7	50.5	50.5	65.1	50.5	54.6	$14,596	$1,030	$12,819
Cedar Bluff Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	705 North Cedar Bluff RD	Knoxville	37923	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 539-7721	1,053	73	14.4		607 (57.6%)	100 (9.5%)	227 (21.6%)	16 (1.5%)	2 (0.2%)	18 (1.7%)	83 (7.9%)	52.8	452^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	55.2%		46.8	516^th of 1018 public elementary schools	49.3%	64	37.9	38.3	40.4	38.8	37.9	39.5	45.2	40.7	55.2	53.7	51.9	53.7	$13,155	$726	$11,885
Ball Camp Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9801 Middlebrook PIKE	Knoxville	37931	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 539-7888	562	36	15.5		398 (70.8%)	31 (5.5%)	57 (10.1%)	23 (4.1%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.9%)	78.3	166^th of 1009 public elementary schools	83.5%		75	192^nd of 1018 public elementary schools	81.1%	26	50.0	69.7	48.1	55.2	58.3	64.5	54.3	58.8	55.3	69.7	58.0	60.4	$13,270	$674	$11,956
Powell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1711 Spring ST	Powell	37849	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(865) 938-2048	842	54	15.6		610 (72.4%)	23 (2.7%)	148 (17.6%)	8 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (6.2%)	57.6	383^rd of 1009 public elementary schools	62.0%		53.1	434^th of 1018 public elementary schools	57.4%	51	49.6	51.6	51.9	51.1	44.6	46.8	37.8	42.7	43.9	54.0	41.7	46.1	$12,580	$790	$11,089
Norwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1909 Merchant DR	Knoxville	37912	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 689-1460	489	35	13.9		136 (27.8%)	122 (24.9%)	188 (38.4%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.8%)	15.5	880^th of 1009 public elementary schools	12.8%		12.7	921^st of 1018 public elementary schools	9.5%	41	31.0	18.8	18.1	22.5	31.0	25.0	12.0	22.0	26.8	28.1	16.9	23.4	$15,943	$1,668	$13,314
West Haven Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3620 Sisk RD	Knoxville	37921	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 594-4467	353	20	17.4		119 (33.7%)	95 (26.9%)	99 (28.0%)	13 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	26 (7.4%)	17.5	865^th of 1009 public elementary schools	14.3%		18.9	850^th of 1018 public elementary schools	16.5%	15	26.2	25.0	42.6	31.1	18.3	17.5	23.4	19.7	23.3	22.0	19.1	21.6	$16,249	$1,529	$13,632

Frequently Asked Questions about Amherst Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Amherst Elementary School?

Students at Amherst Elementary School are 62% White, 17% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 10% African American.

How many students attend Amherst Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 683 students attended Amherst Elementary School.

Is Amherst Elementary School a good school?

Amherst Elementary School ranks 353^rd of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Amherst Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Amherst Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Karns High School

What district is Amherst Elementary School in?

Knox County

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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.