Hamilton County

Chattanooga, Tennessee — 81 schools

45,902
Total Enrollment
81
Schools
$12,591
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Hamilton County operates 81 public schools serving 45,902 students, placing it among the larger districts in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 39 other, 15 middle, 14 high, 13 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 45,888 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Hamilton County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,591 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 47.2% local, 31.6% state, and 21.1% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $68,977 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 26/100, ranked #113 of 140 in Tennessee against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 15 of 81 schools offering Advanced Placement (77 AP courses district-wide), a 394.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 23.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 43.4% White, 26.1% African American, 21.0% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Hamilton County school enrollment varies 15× across entities

Hamilton County school enrollment ranges from 94 students (lowest) to 1,396 students (highest), a spread of 1,302 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Hamilton County student-counselor ratio is 395:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Hamilton County chronic absenteeism rate is 23.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Hamilton County is typically wider than the Hamilton County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

21.1%
Federal
31.6%
State
47.2%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
113 / 140
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Hamilton County county, where this district is located.

$1,211
Studio/mo
$1,263
1 BR/mo
$1,390
2 BR/mo
$1,734
3 BR/mo
$1,853
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$68,977
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 81 schools in Hamilton County.

White 43.4%
Hispanic or Latino 21.0%
African American 26.1%
Asian 1.5%
Multiracial 7.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

15 / 81
Schools with AP
77 AP courses total
394.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.8%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Hamilton County

School Enrollment
Signal Mountain Middle/High School
1,396
The Howard School
1,329
East Hamilton High School
1,293
Ooltewah High School
1,233
East Brainerd Elementary
1,177
Soddy Daisy High School
1,122
Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts
979
East Ridge Elementary
959
Hixson High School
920
East Hamilton Middle School
913
Normal Park Museum Magnet School
877
East Ridge High School
867
Ooltewah Elementary
858
Harrison Elementary
775
Red Bank High School
772
Hunter Middle School
745
Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences Upper
741
Brainerd High School
739
Nolan Elementary
729
Chatt High Center for Creative Arts
717
Middle Valley Elementary
705
Clifton Hills Elementary
703
Spring Creek Elementary
698
Tyner Academy
632
Wolftever Creek Elementary
632
Westview Elementary
631
East Lake Elementary
626
Apison Elementary School
617
Central High School
617
Red Bank Elementary
616
Thrasher Elementary
603
East Ridge Middle School
591
Hixson Middle School
591
Wallace a. Smith Elementary
589
Snow Hill Elementary
582
Sale Creek Middle / High School
577
East Side Elementary
553
Loftis Middle School
550
East Lake Academy of Fine Arts
549
Ooltewah Middle School
547
Bess T Shepherd Elementary
546
Chattanooga Preparatory School
Charter
539
Red Bank Middle School
533
Orchard Knob Elementary
511
Battle Academy for Teaching Learning
494
Ivy Academy Inc.
Charter
487
Soddy Elementary
470
Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence
Charter
468
Big Ridge Elementary
466
Soddy Daisy Middle School
450
Hardy Elementary School
444
Hixson Elementary
419
Mcconnell Elementary
417
Allen Elementary
416
Tyner Middle Academy
401
North Hamilton Elementary
395
Chattanooga School for the Arts and Science Lower
388
Daisy Elementary
382
Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy
380
Montessori Elementary at Highland Park
Charter
372
Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy
Charter
354
Rivermont Elementary
352
Barger Academy
349
Woodmore Elementary
346
Lookout Valley Middle / High School
309
Alpine Crest Elementary
302
Tommie F. Brown Academy
299
Brown Middle School
296
Stem School Chattanooga
296
Dalewood Middle School
290
Ivy Academy'S Skillern Elementary
Charter
277
Dupont Elementary
268
Orchard Knob Middle
264
Lookout Valley Elementary
256
Hamilton County Virtual School
254
Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence Middle
Charter
250
Sequoyah High School
235
Lookout Mountain Elementary
215
Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State
141
Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence High
Charter
113
Howard Connect Academy
94

Nearby Districts in Tennessee

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools
109,797 students · 222 schools · $15,292/pupil
Compare vs Hamilton County →
Davidson County
80,651 students · 161 schools · $17,219/pupil
Compare vs Hamilton County →
Knox County
60,609 students · 93 schools · $11,040/pupil
Compare vs Hamilton County →
Rutherford County
50,707 students · 51 schools · $11,822/pupil
Compare vs Hamilton County →
Williamson County
42,171 students · 50 schools · $12,699/pupil
Compare vs Hamilton County →

Compare Hamilton County

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Memphis-Shelby County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Hamilton County?

Hamilton County has 81 schools, including 39 other, 14 high, 15 middle, 13 elementary. Total enrollment is 45,902 students.

How much does Hamilton County spend per student?

Hamilton County spends $12,591 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #113 in Tennessee.

What is the average teacher salary in Hamilton County?

The average teacher salary in Hamilton County is $68,977 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Hamilton County?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Hamilton County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Hamilton County?

Hamilton County students are 43.4% White, 26.1% African American, 21.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% Asian, averaged across 81 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Hamilton County?

Hamilton County has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #113 out of 140 districts in Tennessee. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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