Your guide to Knox County Schools and raising kids in Knoxville | Knoxpedia
Are you a parent in Knoxville or a stakeholder in the success of Knox County Schools? You're in the right place − this section of Knoxpedia has all you need to know to keep your children happy and educated in Knoxville.
Below, you'll find answers to some of the most popular questions asked by those moving to town or new to living in Knoxville. Once you're finished, you can check out the full Knoxpedia guide and all its categories.
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Can my child transfer within Knox County Schools?
Yes! While students are assigned to a school based on their home address, Knox County Schools has a policy to accommodate students who hope to attend a different school. But a transfer is not guaranteed, and the district favors teachers' children, those who want to attend a magnet school and those who hope to take advantage of a specific academic program. The school they hope to attend, of course, must have room for additional students. Parents are responsible for driving their kids to the new school, and students are expected to remain in good academic and disciplinary standing.
Read more: Conditions for transferring schools in Knox County
Which Knox County schools are the most and least diverse?
The district's enrollment of nearly 59,000 students is majority white and that trend is reflected in many schools. However, there are a few schools with a higher proportion of Asian, Hispanic and Black students. Among the more diverse elementary schools are Belle Morris, Lonsdale and Maynard. Among middle schools, Vine and Holston are more diverse. Austin East and Fulton High are among the more diverse high schools.
What are homeschool rules in Knox County?
To begin homeschooling, a parent or legal guardian is required to complete an Intent to Home School Form. All materials for home schooling and curriculum are provided by the parents. The student is required to have four hours of instruction per day during the 180-day instructional calendar. The state of Tennessee requires all fifth- and seventh-grade homeschooled students to complete spring assessments. If you are registered with the district, you should be notified by mail or email in late March and early April regarding information on the spring assessment.
Are there charter schools in Knoxville?
Yes. In fact, Knoxville will soon have two charter schools. Emerald Academy, opened in 2015, has been educating kids for years. Knox Prep, an all-boys charter school, is scheduled to open in 2024. Knox Prep has not opened applications as of late October 2023. For Emerald Academy, enrollment for the 2024-25 school year opened May 1, 2023 and is open until April 5, 2024. The application can be found at www.emeraldacademy.org/enroll.
Read more: What to know about a new charter school coming to Knoxville
What are some family-friendly activities in Knoxville?
Sometimes, the best fun happens when you go outside to explore. Ijams Nature Center in South Knoxville is home to 318 acres of natural beauty, including forests, meadows, walking trails and a quarry.
For fun and education, there's Zoo Knoxville and its "Red Panda Village," as well as the STEAM museum and planetarium at Muse Knoxville.
Want something more thrilling? West Knoxville has a handful of arcades and adventure parks, including Main Event Knoxville, Sir Goony's Family Fun Center in Farragut and the Urban Air Adventure & Trampoline Park.
If your little ones enjoy sports, check out the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in downtown Knoxville.
Children also might enjoy Safety City, a child-size version of Knoxville, complete with a Sunsphere model. Then again, why not head downtown to visit the actual Knoxville icon, constructed for the 1982 World's Fair?
How do I get free health care for kids in Knox County?
Whether your child is an existing TennCare member or not, you can find useful resources on the state's TennCare Kids pages at www.tn.gov/tenncare/tenncare-kids.html.
The Knox County Health Department provides a number of preventative health services including immunizations, lice and scabies checks. The department provides immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Have more questions about kids and Knox County Schools?
Let this Knox News reporter help you!
Areena Arora is a data and investigative reporter. Her focus is on covering education. Born and raised in India, Areena moved to the country in 2014 to study in Ohio. She began her journalism career working for a local newspaper in Nampa, Idaho. She is a 2022 graduate of Columbia University's masters in data journalism program. Aside from news, she spends her time raising plants and reading nonfiction. Email: Areena.Arora@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Schools and raising kids in Knoxville: What to know
