Polk Innovative Learning Academy

Polk Innovative Learning Academy is a small alternative K-12 school in Benton, Tennessee, serving 147 students within Polk County Schools, a district rated 1-star and ranked 125th of 141 in the state. The school's standout feature is its remarkably small class sizes, with a student-teacher ratio of just 6.5 to 1 in 2023-24, suggesting a highly individualized setting. However, academic proficiency is consistently far below district and state averages, with math proficiency at 6.7% versus 42.2% statewide in 2024-25, and similar gaps in English, Biology I, and Algebra I. English II has been a relative bright spot in past years, though it has also declined recently.

Attendance is a clear strength: chronic absenteeism was just 5.0% in 2022-23, compared to 20.2% statewide. Graduation rates have been volatile, ranging from 81.3% to 90.9% over the past four years, and at times exceeding state averages. Yet dropout rates have hit 15% in some years, suggesting that students may be attending regularly but still struggling to stay on track academically. Per-pupil spending has swung wildly from $6,555 to $37,539 due to the small enrollment and fixed costs, making financial comparisons unreliable.

Comparing to the nearby North Cleveland GOAL Academy, another alternative school about 12 miles away in Bradley County, Polk posts a similar graduation rate (81.3% vs. 83.3% in 2024-25) despite being in a much lower-performing district. Polk's chronic absenteeism is dramatically lower than North Cleveland's 72.7% rate, though the two schools report different years. Overall, Polk Innovative Learning Academy offers small classes and good attendance, but families should be aware that test scores are very low and academic outcomes are volatile, which matters more than the district's rating alone might suggest.