📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in Tennessee

Tennessee has 112 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

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📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Tennessee Sorted by rating — highest first
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Germantown Municipal School DistrictGermantown10/10  Excellent99th
#2Williamson County School DistrictWilliamson10/10  Excellent99th
#3Williamson County SchoolsBrentwood10/10  Excellent99th
#4Collierville SchoolsCollierville10/10  Excellent98th
#5Johnson City School DistrictJohnson10/10  Excellent97th
#6Wilson County School DistrictWilson10/10  Excellent96th
#7Bartlett City School DistrictBartlett10/10  Excellent94th
#8Sumner County School DistrictSumner10/10  Excellent94th
#9Trousdale County School DistrictTrousdale10/10  Excellent94th
#10Dyer County School DistrictDyer10/10  Excellent91th
#11Henderson County School DistrictDarden10/10  Excellent91th
#12Washington County School DistrictWashington9/10  Excellent90th
#13Elizabethton City School DistrictElizabethton9/10  Excellent89th
#14Loudon County School DistrictLoudon9/10  Excellent89th
#15Kingsport City School DistrictKingsport9/10  Excellent87th
#16Chester County School DistrictEnville9/10  Excellent85th
#17Clarksville-Montgomery County School SystemClarksville-Montgomery9/10  Excellent85th
#18Milan Special School DistrictMilan9/10  Excellent85th
#19Rutherford County School DistrictRutherford9/10  Excellent85th
#20Tipton County School DistrictTipton9/10  Excellent83th
#21Dickson County School DistrictDickson9/10  Excellent82th
#22South Carroll Special School DistrictWestport9/10  Excellent82th
#23Weakley County School DistrictWeakley9/10  Excellent82th
#24Decatur County School DistrictDecatur8/10  Good80th
#25Lincoln County School DistrictLincoln8/10  Good80th

Best School Districts in Tennessee (2026)

This ranking covers 112 rated public school districts in Tennessee, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.

A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →

How to Use This List

Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Tennessee?
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Germantown Municipal School District in Germantown, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated?
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores?
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.