Best Elementary Schools in Knoxville, TN (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Knoxville, TN, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Knoxville, TN rankings: Elementary Schools
Knoxville, TN elementary schools ranked
How Knoxville, TN's elementary schools compare
A: 13B: 12C: 2D: 12F: 4
58% of the 43 ranked elementary schools in Knoxville, TN earn an A or B (13 A grades, 12 B, 2 C, 12 D, 4 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 33 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (77% here, 70% nationally), and 16 exceed it. On average 44% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 36% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Gap Creek Elementary (62% against 41%, A), Christenberry Elementary (42% against 22%, C+), Emerald Academy (30% against 10%, D+), South Knox Elementary (65% against 47%, A), Sequoyah Elementary (82% against 66%, A+).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 11): Knox County (11).
The largest ranked elementary schools: Hardin Valley Elementary (1,415 students, A, #6), Cedar Bluff Elementary (1,226 students, B-, #25), Karns Elementary (1,210 students, B, #20).
Of the top 25, 1 is a magnet school and 0 are charters. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
Elementary schools in Knoxville, TN that are not ranked
6 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Special-purpose schools (1)
Alternative, special-education and vocational schools serve a different mission and a different student body, so they are graded but not ranked against regular schools.
- F Tennessee School For Deaf Elementary School, Knoxville
Fully online schools (1)
Statewide virtual schools draw students from everywhere, so a place ranking is not a fair comparison.
- D- Tennessee Virtual Academy, Knoxville
Not yet graded (4)
Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.
- Farragut Primary, Knoxville
- Ft Sanders Education Development Center, Knoxville
- Kcs Virtual Elementary School, Knoxville
- Sunnyview Primary, Knoxville
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Knoxville, TN, as grouped on its schools page; the Tennessee ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Knoxville, TN
What is the best elementary school in Knoxville, TN?
Sequoyah Elementary in Knoxville ranks first among the 43 ranked elementary schools in Knoxville, TN with a SchoolGrade of A+, 82% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 66%.
How are elementary schools in Knoxville, TN ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Knoxville, TN have?
SchoolGrade grades 49 public elementary schools in Knoxville, TN; 43 are ranked here and 6 are listed as not ranked.