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Polk County High School

Q: Is Polk County High School a good school?

Polk County High School ranks 201 st of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Polk County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 400 students attended Polk County High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Polk County High School?

Students at Polk County High School are 94% White, 4% Hispanic.

Q: What schools feed into Polk County High School?

Polk County High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Benton Elementary School Elementary : South Polk Elementary School Middle : Chilhowee Middle School

Public Grades 9-12

201^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 50% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Polk County High School is a small, traditional public high school in Benton, Tennessee, serving roughly 400 students in grades 9–12 within the Polk County Schools district. The school currently ranks at the 50th percentile statewide, down significantly from the 77th percentile in 2021-22. Among nearby schools, it trails Walker Valley High School (79th percentile), Central High School (72nd), Copper Basin High School (72nd), Bradley Central High School (60th), and McMinn High School (56th), while landing just ahead of Cleveland High School (36th). Notably, Polk County Schools ranks in the 11th percentile among Tennessee districts, meaning the high school performs well above its district's overall rating.

The most concerning metric is the graduation rate. At 83.1%, Polk trails every nearby traditional high school and sits more than seven points below the state average of 90.5%. Graduation rates have also been volatile, falling from 88.7% in 2021-22 to 80.2% in 2023-24 before recovering to 83.1%. Chronic absenteeism stands at 22.7%, above the state rate of 18.3%, and dropout rates have swung dramatically from year to year. These patterns point to real challenges with student engagement and retention.

Academic results are mixed. The school excels in US History (52.9% proficient vs. 42.4% statewide) and Algebra II, with essentially average Biology scores, but struggles significantly in Algebra I (14.7% proficiency vs. 32.3% statewide) and English I/II. One bright spot: in 2024-25, the school ranked in the 96th percentile statewide for serving low-income students, though special education outcomes remain a concern. Interestingly, Polk spends about $12,807 per student — more than several better-performing neighbors — suggesting that resources alone aren't driving the gap. For parents, the key takeaway is that Polk offers real strengths in upper-level courses and for low-income students, but families should weigh the graduation rate and foundational math and English challenges carefully.

400

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,807

Per pupil spending ?

30.5%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

7200 Highway 411 North
Benton, TN 37307

(423) 299-0078

District: Polk County Schools

Feeder schools for Polk County High School:

Elementary:	Benton Elementary School
	South Polk Elementary School
Middle:	Chilhowee Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.3%

Hispanic:

3.5%

Asian:

1.0%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Polk County High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2016 → 50th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (37% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Graduation rate below the Tennessee average (83% vs 90%)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg32%

Tennessee avg43%

201^st of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Top 50%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From top 37% (2016) to top 50% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2High Schools in the Polk County Schools

125^th of 141Polk 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	47.4	201 of 400	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.6	133 of 389	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.2	147 of 392	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.6	141 of 384	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.4	81 of 358	77.4%	★★★★☆
2021	56.4	106 of 347	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.7	230 of 342	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.2	166 of 341	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	38.9	167 of 273	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	57.2	129 of 351	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.0	162 of 300	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	39.0	218 of 296	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	51.9	168 of 285	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.6	165 of 269	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	17.1	254 of 273	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	32.4	220 of 267	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	51.8	154 of 365	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.0	143 of 365	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.8	130 of 366	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.9	69 of 350	80.3%	★★★★☆
2021	50.5	142 of 340	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	27.9	262 of 337	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	57.2	95 of 308	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	88.9	12 of 324	96.3%	★★★★★
2024	56.1	108 of 337	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.5	24 of 330	92.7%	★★★★★
2022	73.6	35 of 322	89.1%	★★★★☆
2021	48.4	135 of 317	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.5	205 of 302	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.1	82 of 308	73.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	60.5	108 of 368	70.7%	★★★★☆
2024	48.5	166 of 366	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.6	144 of 359	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.5	98 of 349	71.9%	★★★★☆
2021	59.3	90 of 332	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	43.8	161 of 329	51.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	32.9	149 of 210	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.4	139 of 198	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.4	100 of 154	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.6	48 of 125	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	30.8	116 of 159	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	38.4	206 of 330	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.2	146 of 323	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.4	179 of 326	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.0	165 of 325	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.6	103 of 312	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.0	123 of 306	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	27.7	246 of 301	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.8	195 of 307	36.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Male (2025)71st percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)69th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2025)58th percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)38th percentile-12 vs school

Special Education (2026)29th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

US History53%+10 vs state

English II49%-9 vs state

Biology I49%~ state avg

Algebra II39%~ state avg

Geometry34%-8 vs state

English I28%-10 vs state

Algebra I15%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Polk County 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 Integrated Math I (2026)					TNReady Integrated Math II (2026)					TNReady Integrated Math III (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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	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 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 12th 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 Integrated Math I 8th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math I All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math II 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II 12th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math II All Grades	TNReady Integrated Math III 9th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 10th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 11th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III 12th Grade	TNReady Integrated Math III All Grades	TNReady US History 9th Grade	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 8th Grade	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I 10th Grade	TNReady English I 11th Grade	TNReady English I 12th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 9th Grade	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 12th 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
Polk County High School	Public	9-12	7200 Highway 411 North	Benton	37307	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 299-0078	446	29	15.6	30.5%	422 (94.6%)	3 (0.7%)	14 (3.1%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	47.4	201^st of 400 public high schools	49.8%		58.6	133^rd of 389 public high schools	65.8%	68								15.9				14.7			36.3		38.8	46.7	49.2			49.0																		52.9		52.9		28.3				27.5		49.4			49.4		30.0			34.5							$12,807	$592	$11,221
Walker Valley High School	Public	9-12	750 Lauderdale Memorial Hwy. N	Cleveland	37312	Bradley County	Bradley County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 336-1383	1,501	96	15.6	11.0%	1,277 (85.1%)	45 (3.0%)	111 (7.4%)	9 (0.6%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (3.7%)	71	83^rd of 400 public high schools	79.3%		69.5	80^th of 389 public high schools	79.4%	3																		94.8	51.8			58.5		45.4			45.1	≥ 95%	31.8			44.3		≥ 95%	25.0		43.6		34.6	40.8	62.5	41.4		52.5				52.1		72.9			72.5												$12,092	$574	$10,769
Bradley County Virtual School	Public, Virtual	6-12	2369 Parker Street NE	Cleveland	37311	Bradley County	Bradley County Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(423) 709-8414	137	7	19.5	23.5%	118 (86.1%)	4 (2.9%)	7 (5.1%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.1%)	50.3	192^nd of 400 public high schools	52.0%		59.5	130^th of 389 public high schools	66.6%	62	20.0	38.5	30.4	40.0	57.1	50.0													54.5			54.5		30.8			35.7		20.0			20.0			13.0		13.0			31.8		33.3		63.6				63.6		55.0			55.0						30.0	50.0	41.7	40.0	57.1	50.0	$5,266	$432	$4,800
PIE Innovation Center	Public	9-12	2181 Parker St NE	Cleveland	37311	Bradley County	Bradley County Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(423) 476-0620	0	1	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Cleveland High School	Public	9-12	850 Raider Drive	Cleveland	37312	Bradley County	Cleveland City Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 478-1113	1,799	111	16.2	22.9%	894 (49.7%)	186 (10.3%)	552 (30.7%)	41 (2.3%)	4 (0.2%)	15 (0.8%)	107 (5.9%)	36.8	254^th of 400 public high schools	36.5%		39.7	224^th of 389 public high schools	42.4%	30								9.3	7.1			9.0		75.5	19.6	7.7	27.2	86.7	35.8	17.6		45.8																		25.5		26.0		31.6				30.5		58.2	< 5%		53.7	≥ 95%	24.8	8.7		31.8							$11,976	$534	$10,828
Central High School	Public	9-12	145 Co Road 461	Englewood	37329	McMinn County	McMinn County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 263-5541	619	46	13.6	25.6%	520 (84.0%)	16 (2.6%)	51 (8.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.8%)	62.6	112^th of 400 public high schools	72.0%		63.2	104^th of 389 public high schools	73.3%	8								20.5				20.2			43.4		44.7	78.8	53.5			61.7																						32.3				32.4		66.9			66.4	93.8	37.6			44.5							$12,506	$511	$11,159
Bradley Central High School	Public	9-12	1000 South Lee Highway	Cleveland	37311	Bradley County	Bradley County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 476-0650	1,662	109	15.2	21.7%	1,352 (81.3%)	58 (3.5%)	172 (10.3%)	9 (0.5%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (4.0%)	54.7	161^st of 400 public high schools	59.8%		55.4	145^th of 389 public high schools	62.7%	16																		93.1	35.3			39.6		37.2			36.7	≥ 95%	36.0			40.1		94.4	36.4		42.0			29.6		28.8		42.3				41.4		51.6	7.7		50.0												$11,937	$553	$10,669
McMinn High School	Public	9-12	2215 Congress Pkwy	Athens	37303	McMinn County	McMinn County Schools	No	No	No	No	(423) 745-4142	1,307	82	15.9	29.7%	998 (76.4%)	81 (6.2%)	134 (10.3%)	19 (1.5%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (5.6%)	52.2	177^th of 400 public high schools	55.8%		44.3	201^st of 389 public high schools	48.3%	24								16.6				16.3		75.8	20.1	< 5%	25.0	94.7	50.2	41.7		55.8																		6.3		13.0		31.4				31.1		62.7			61.5	92.0	40.7			44.4							$10,890	$645	$9,441
Copper Basin High School	Public	7-12	205 Cougar Drive	Copperhill	37317	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(423) 496-3291	244	26	9.2	39.0%	235 (96.3%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	62.5	114^th of 400 public high schools	71.5%		66.6	89^th of 389 public high schools	77.1%	25	< 5%	30.3	16.4	26.5	30.3	28.4		33.3				23.7			33.3		31.8		35.7			33.3																		65.2		66.7		37.9				36.7		68.8			64.7		27.3			19.4	38.2	33.3	35.8	41.2	54.5	47.8	$16,864	$410	$15,224

Frequently Asked Questions about Polk County High School

What is the racial makeup of Polk County High School?

Students at Polk County High School are 94% White, 4% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Polk County High School?

Polk County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Benton Elementary School
Elementary : South Polk Elementary School
Middle : Chilhowee Middle School

What district is Polk County High School in?

Polk County Schools

Is Polk County High School a good school?

Polk County High School ranks 201^st of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Polk County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 400 students attended Polk County High School.

Rate Polk County High School!

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 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.