Summary:
Zip code 37931 in Knoxville, Tennessee is home to 7 schools within Knox County Schools, a district ranked 78th out of 141 Tennessee districts with a 2-star rating. The 5,542 students in this area attend four elementary schools (Karns Elementary School, Amherst Elementary School, Ball Camp Elementary School, Mill Creek Elementary School), one middle school (Karns Middle School), one high school (Karns High School), and one alternative school (Knox County Virtual School).
Ball Camp Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking in the top 17% of Tennessee elementary schools with 4 stars and posting the highest math, ELA, and science proficiency rates in the area, while also recording the lowest chronic absenteeism at 8.9%. Mill Creek Elementary School is the most improved, jumping from the 64th to the 76th percentile to earn 4-star status while spending the least per student at $12,211. Karns High School presents a mixed profile: it exceeds state averages in Biology and US History, but only 10.2% of its students are proficient in Algebra I, and its 86.6% graduation rate trails the state's 90.5%.
All four elementary schools exceed district and state averages in math and ELA, making elementary education the clear strength of 37931. However, the secondary schools struggle: Karns Middle School falls below district and state averages in both math and ELA, and chronic absenteeism roughly doubles, from about 11.4% at the elementary level to about 22.8% at the secondary and alternative schools. Knox County Virtual School spends the most per student ($18,281) yet posts the lowest math proficiency, while Mill Creek proves that significant improvement is possible with the lowest spending. Overall, families will find excellent elementary options, but the middle and high schools show concerning trends in math proficiency, attendance, and student persistence.
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