Chronic Absenteeism in Tennessee

Reviewed by PlainSchools Editorial, K12 Schools Editorial Team · June 4, 2026

Top 100 schools ranked by chronic absenteeism rate. 100 schools have critical rates above 50%.

73.1%

State Average

national: 30.9%

100

Critical Schools

>50% absent

100.0%

Worst Rate

Melrose High

100

Schools

#	School	City	Enrollment	Absent %	Status
1	Melrose High	Memphis	645	100.0%	Critical
2	W. a. Bass Adult Program	Nashville	309	100.0%	Critical
3	Hamilton County Virtual School	Chattanooga	254	100.0%	Critical
4	Kipp Memphis Academy Middle	Memphis	228	100.0%	Critical
5	Memphis Scholars Florida Kansas	Memphis	143	100.0%	Critical
6	Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy	Knoxville	95	100.0%	Critical
7	Barry Tatum Academy	Lebanon	86	100.0%	Critical
8	Tipton County Alternative Learning Center	Covington	85	100.0%	Critical
9	Richard Yoakley School	Knoxville	81	100.0%	Critical
10	Memphis Scholars Raleigh-Egypt	Memphis	78	100.0%	Critical
11	White Plains Academy	Algood	76	100.0%	Critical
12	Johnson Alternative Learning Center	Nashville	74	100.0%	Critical
13	Robertson County Phoenix Academy	Springfield	74	100.0%	Critical
14	Gary Hardin Academy	Sevierville	74	100.0%	Critical
15	W.a. Bass Alternative Learning Center	Nashville	68	100.0%	Critical
16	Daniel Mckee Alternative School	Murfreesboro	63	100.0%	Critical
17	Ridgedale Alternative School	Knoxville	50	100.0%	Critical
18	Pearl-Cohn High	Nashville	526	98.5%	Critical
19	The Excel Center	Memphis	457	96.5%	Critical
20	Martin Luther King Preparatory High School	Memphis	537	95.9%	Critical
21	Northfield Academy	Spring Hill	74	94.6%	Critical
22	Northwest Prep Academy	Memphis	173	94.2%	Critical
23	The Phoenix School	Crossville	72	93.1%	Critical
24	Haynes Middle	Nashville	234	91.0%	Critical
25	Memphis College Preparatory	Memphis	227	88.1%	Critical
26	Moses Mckissack Middle	Nashville	114	86.8%	Critical
27	Stratford Stem Magnet School	Nashville	810	85.8%	Critical
28	Memphis Scholars Caldwell-Guthrie	Memphis	309	85.1%	Critical
29	Madison Middle	Madison	360	85.0%	Critical
30	Orchard Knob Middle	Chattanooga	264	78.8%	Critical
31	Kipp Memphis Collegiate High School	Memphis	346	77.7%	Critical
32	Kipp Memphis Collegiate Middle	Memphis	301	77.1%	Critical
33	Believe Memphis Academy Charter School	Memphis	467	76.9%	Critical
34	Maplewood High	Nashville	700	76.3%	Critical
35	John Early Middle	Nashville	136	75.7%	Critical
36	Perry County High School	Linden	273	75.1%	Critical
37	Tenn School for Blind	Nashville	100	74.0%	Critical
38	Republic High School	Nashville	587	73.8%	Critical
39	Memphis Business Academy High School	Memphis	521	73.3%	Critical
40	Memphis Delta Preparatory	Memphis	351	72.9%	Critical
41	Two Rivers Middle	Nashville	281	72.6%	Critical
42	A. Maceo Walker Middle	Memphis	641	69.6%	Critical
43	Woodstock Middle School	Millington	248	69.4%	Critical
44	R T Fisher Alternative	Gallatin	127	69.3%	Critical
45	Bluff City High School	Memphis	514	69.1%	Critical
46	Jere Baxter Middle	Nashville	369	69.1%	Critical
47	Howard Connect Academy	Chattanooga	94	69.1%	Critical
48	Hillcrest High School	Memphis	476	68.9%	Critical
49	Donelson Middle	Nashville	434	68.7%	Critical
50	Grainger High School	Rutledge	756	67.3%	Critical
51	Journey Hanley School	Memphis	657	67.1%	Critical
52	Jones Elementary	Nashville	251	66.9%	Critical
53	Cherokee Elementary	Memphis	321	66.4%	Critical
54	Vine Middle/Magnet	Knoxville	382	66.0%	Critical
55	The Howard School	Chattanooga	1,329	65.6%	Critical
56	Glencliff High School	Nashville	1,013	65.5%	Critical
57	Wooddale Middle School	Memphis	534	64.4%	Critical
58	East Nashville Magnet High School	Nashville	432	64.4%	Critical
59	North Parkway Middle School	Jackson	360	64.2%	Critical
60	Chickasaw Middle	Memphis	330	63.9%	Critical
61	Kipp Memphis Collegiate Elementary	Memphis	381	63.8%	Critical
62	Haywood High School	Brownsville	733	63.0%	Critical
63	South Doyle High School	Knoxville	925	62.3%	Critical
64	Northaven Elementary	Memphis	320	62.2%	Critical
65	Levi Elementary	Memphis	454	62.1%	Critical
66	Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary	Nashville	499	61.9%	Critical
67	Coker Creek Elementary	Tellico Plains	55	61.8%	Critical
68	Lincoln Elementary School	Jackson	412	61.4%	Critical
69	Neely'S Bend: a Lead Public School	Madison	367	61.0%	Critical
70	Bedford County Virtual School	Wartrace	77	61.0%	Critical
71	Ida B. Wells Academy Es/Ms	Memphis	99	60.6%	Critical
72	Sequatchie Co High School	Dunlap	542	60.5%	Critical
73	Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School	Somerville	724	60.4%	Critical
74	William Henry Oliver Middle	Nashville	423	60.3%	Critical
75	City University School of Liberal Arts	Memphis	179	59.8%	Critical
76	Cornerstone Prep - Lester Campus	Memphis	401	59.6%	Critical
77	Apollo Middle	Antioch	549	59.0%	Critical
78	Hunters Lane High	Nashville	1,414	58.8%	Critical
79	Ridgeway High	Memphis	695	58.6%	Critical
80	Wright Middle	Nashville	498	58.0%	Critical
81	Fulton High School	Knoxville	933	57.8%	Critical
82	Liberty Technology Magnet High School	Jackson	604	57.8%	Critical
83	Jackson Career Technology Magnet Elementary	Jackson	336	57.7%	Critical
84	Brainerd High School	Chattanooga	739	57.5%	Critical
85	New Directions Academy	Charlotte	61	57.4%	Critical
86	Austin East High/Magnet	Knoxville	663	57.3%	Critical
87	Compass Community School Orange Mound Campus	Memphis	203	57.1%	Critical
88	East Ridge High School	Chattanooga	867	57.0%	Critical
89	Spring Hill Elementary	Knoxville	419	56.6%	Critical
90	Fairley High School	Memphis	399	55.9%	Critical
91	Cumberland Elementary	Nashville	452	55.8%	Critical
92	Croft Middle	Nashville	411	55.5%	Critical
93	Bradley Academy - an Arts Integrated School	Murfreesboro	334	55.1%	Critical
94	Freedom Preparatory Academy Flagship	Memphis	692	54.5%	Critical
95	Compass Community School Frayser Campus	Memphis	200	54.5%	Critical
96	Rutledge Middle School	Rutledge	363	54.0%	Critical
97	Sevier County High School	Sevierville	950	53.9%	Critical
98	Jones Cove Elementary	Cosby	102	53.9%	Critical
99	Green Magnet Math and Science Academy	Knoxville	359	53.8%	Critical
100	Compass Community School Binghampton Campus	Memphis	201	53.7%	Critical

← National Rankings All Tennessee Schools Funding Equity

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts — Chronic Absenteeism Data (SY 2021-22). Schools with fewer than 50 students excluded. Percentage = chronically absent students / total enrollment U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts — Chronic Absenteeism Data (SY 2021-22). Schools with fewer than 50 students excluded. Percentage = chronically absent students / total enrollment

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.