- Enrollment
- 421
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Benton, TN
Polk County High School
Federal NCES profile for Polk County High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 470345001900
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 60
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Polk County High School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of Tennessee schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Tennessee schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Benton · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Tennessee
- 400
- students enrolled
Polk County High School has class sizes smaller than 70% of Tennessee schools. Computed live against every Tennessee school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Polk County High School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Benton, TN.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
Polk County High School held near 446 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 30.6 → 28.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 470345001900 · Benton, TN High · SMALL · TRAD
400 enr · 13.3:1 · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Benton Elementary (421 students)
Polk County High School held near 446 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 30.6 → 28.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Tennessee schools → · Find another →
Polk County High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Benton Element
Benton Elementary
421 students
- This school
Polk County High School
400 students
- South Polk Ele
South Polk Elementary
347 students
- Copper Basin E
Copper Basin Elementary School
321 students
- Chilhowee Midd
Chilhowee Middle School
293 students
- Copper Basin H
Copper Basin High School
231 students
What this shows Polk County High School reports 400 students on the CCD universe file.
How Polk County High School compares
Polk County High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Tennessee and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Tennessee | Tennessee avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 13% | 15.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 400 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
400
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 30% in Tennessee - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,066
per pupil, district-wide
- above Tennessee avg of $11,532
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 200 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
66
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 17 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 94.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%
Asian 1.0%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Two or More 0.3%
Largest group: White at 94.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 10.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 10.9, Polk County High School is less mixed than the Tennessee school average of 38.3.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Polk County reports $12,066 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Polk County High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Elementary | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Polk Elementary | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Copper Basin Elementary School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chilhowee Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Copper Basin High School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Polk County High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 347
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 321
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 293
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 231
- Students per teacher
- 8.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~400 students)
Frequently asked questions about Polk County High School
How many students attend Polk County High School?
Polk County High School has 400 students enrolled. It is a high school in Benton, TN. CCD year-over-year: 443 (2022-23) → 446 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polk County High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Polk County High School is 13.3:1, which is 13% lower than the Tennessee average of 15.3:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Polk County High School?
The largest demographic group at Polk County High School is White at 94.3% of enrollment, in Benton, TN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Polk County High School?
Polk County High School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Polk County High School rank among public schools in Benton?
By Resource Investment Index, Polk County High School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Benton, TN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Polk County?
Besides Polk County High School, Polk County also operates Benton Elementary (421 students), South Polk Elementary (347 students), and Copper Basin Elementary School (321 students). See the Polk County district page for the complete list.