Best public high schools in Tennessee
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ’96 commencement address at Wellesley College, “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” If that’s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It’s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in Tennessee using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.
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#30. McKenzie High School
– Location: McKenzie Special School District, TN
– Enrollment: 341 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#29. Dyersburg High School
– Location: Dyersburg City School District, TN
– Enrollment: 702 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#28. Renaissance High School
– Location: Williamson County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 165 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#27. University School
– Location: Washington County School District, TN
– Enrollment: 604 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#26. Madison Academic Magnet High School
– Location: Madison County School District, TN
– Enrollment: 453 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
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#25. Centennial High School
– Location: Williamson County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,569 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#24. Alcoa High School
– Location: Alcoa City Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 690 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#23. Oak Ridge High School
– Location: Oak Ridge School District, TN
– Enrollment: 1,517 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#22. Independence High School
– Location: Williamson County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 2,057 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#21. Maryville High School
– Location: Maryville City Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,244 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
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#20. Greeneville High School
– Location: Greeneville City Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 920 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#19. Blackman High School
– Location: Rutherford County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,998 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#18. Collierville High School
– Location: Collierville Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 2,827 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#17. Science Hill High School
– Location: Johnson City Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 2,258 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#16. Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School
– Location: Madison County School District, TN
– Enrollment: 239 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
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#15. L&N STEM Academy
– Location: Knox County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 617 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#14. Nolensville High School
– Location: Williamson County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,332 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#13. Dobyns-Bennett High School
– Location: Kingsport City Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 2,414 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#12. Valor Flagship Academy
– Location: Metro Nashville Public Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,360 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#11. Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences (CSAS) – Upper School
– Location: Hamilton County School District, TN
– Enrollment: 659 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
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#10. Franklin High School
– Location: Williamson County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,746 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#9. White Station High School
– Location: Shelby County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,851 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#8. Farragut High School
– Location: Knox County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 2,067 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#7. Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts
– Location: Hamilton County School District, TN
– Enrollment: 614 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#6. STEM School Chattanooga
– Location: Hamilton County School District, TN
– Enrollment: 277 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
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#5. Merrol Hyde Magnet School
– Location: Sumner County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 665 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#4. Brentwood High School
– Location: Williamson County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,756 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#3. Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School
– Location: Metro Nashville Public Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,252 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#2. Ravenwood High School
– Location: Williamson County Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 1,880 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#1. Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School
– Location: Metro Nashville Public Schools, TN
– Enrollment: 894 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
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By Stacker
It’s great to see these top public high schools in Tennessee recognized for their college prep focus. Plus, their extracurriculars and college counseling really help students thrive. What do you think?
Have you ever thought about how different high schools can shape a student’s future? It’s so cool to see the top schools in Tennessee focusing on college prep! Plus, many offer AP courses and dual enrollment options, which is a game changer. The community involvement and support services really elevate the whole experience too!
Isn’t it incredible how Tennessee’s public high schools are shaping future leaders? The blend of academics and extracurriculars really helps students thrive. I love seeing such dedication! 😊
Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro is one of the top 20 high schools in the nation, one of the top 10 magnet schools in the nation, one of the top 100 STEM schools in the nation, and is the #1 high school in Tennessee on most lists. But they aren’t on this list at all. This list is bogus.
Merrol-Hyde Magnet School in Hendersonville, TN is great with only 650 Students in K-12 & is really hard to get in unless you personally know a Teacher or Staff Member there. However, Hendersonville High School has 29 in classroom taught AP Classes!!! Much much more than most & offers every Club & Organization imaginable…even a Nationally Recognized ROTC & FFA Programs… There is no way HHS shouldn’t be on this List!