Smith County School District

126 S C M S Lane
Carthage, TN 37030-1879
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public middle schools serving 1,594 students in Smith County School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in Tennessee.
Public Middle Schools in Smith County School District have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the Tennessee public middle school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 38% (versus the 34% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 11% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Tennessee public middle school average of 40% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (TN)
# Schools
9 Schools
671 Schools
# Students
3,056 Students
314,306 Students
# Teachers
n/a
5 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
n/a
n/a

Student By Grade

District Rank

Smith County School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 147 school districts in Tennessee (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has decreased from 94% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (TN)
#48 out of 147 school districts
(Top 50%)
36%
34%
40%
37%
43%
40%
86%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.24
0.59
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
6%
14%
% Black
1%
19%
% White
87%
60%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,169 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,075. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,647 is less than the state median of $11,570. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (TN)
Total Revenue
$31 MM
$12,104 MM
Spending
$30 MM
$11,597 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,169
$12,075
Spending / Student
$9,647
$11,570

Best Smith County School District Public Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Forks River Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
611 Cookeville Hwy
Elmwood, TN 38560
(615) 897-2676
Gr: PK-8 | 208 students Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #22.
Defeated Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
451 Defeated Creek Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 774-3150
Gr: PK-8 | 288 students Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #33.
Smith County Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
134 Smith County Middle School
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-8277
Gr: 5-8 | 289 students Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #44.
Union Heights Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
663 Lebanon Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
(615) 735-1975
Gr: PK-8 | 268 students Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #55.
Gordonsville High School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
110 Main Street East
Gordonsville, TN 38563
(615) 683-8245
Gr: 7-12 | 541 students Minority enrollment: 8%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 9 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,056 students
  • Minority Enrollment: 13%
  • : 86% (Btm 50% in TN)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 36% (Top 50%)
  • : 40% (Top 30%)
  • : 43% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TN Dept. of Education

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