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The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) is the state’s education authority that oversees and provides all education-related services and information in Tennessee. Even though there are some exceptions, the TDOE requires all legal custodians to enroll minors between the ages of six and 17, both ages inclusive, in either public or nonpublic schools. Since education is a right in the United States, it is not necessary unnecessary for children to be a citizen citizens or permanent resident residents to enroll in school.
Important: Please note that this article is based on the latest official information provided by the state and should only serve as a guide.
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School-level education consists of three levels: elementary (K-5 grade), middle (6-8 grade), and secondary (9-12 grade). Schools are usually divided by and specialized in one of these three, making it rare to find an establishment that includes all of them in the same building or campus. So, if you have children in different age groups, they will most likely go to different establishments based on what grade they fall into. In addition, there are You can also choose from different types of schools you can choose from depending on your needs and preferences if going the private route.
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Types of Schools
Public
You do not need to pay to enroll your child in public school,as they are funded by the city, state, and/or federal government. Students are not required to wear uniforms; however, depending on the school, you might need to pay for some school supplies or activities.
Depending on where they live, students are assigned to their schools through a process called zoning. This is important to keep in mind remember when looking to rent or buy a home, as your children will be assigned to the school in that district.
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You must pay tuition to attend private schools, which are usually managed by religious organizations. They are not subject to zoning, and their rules might be different differ from those of public schools, as they are not run by any no level of government runs them. Some advantages to private schools include smaller class sizes and a more customized educational experience.
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Once you know what school you will be enrolling enroll your child intoin, you will need to must provide some documents to begin the process. We recommend you check in with the school regarding their specific requirements, but generally, you will need:
Certified birth certificate
Evidence of a current medical examination
Official copy of records/transcripts from the most recently attended school
Two (2) proofs of home address (ie.eg., a rental agreement, current utility bills, or tax statement)
Requirements for public schools in Tennessee may vary by county. Here is what you will need for enrollment in Knox County.
*If you are bringing bring immunizations from anywhere other than Tennessee, you will need to must transfer them through the Knox County Department of Health.
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It is up to the school to decide the grade placement for students who are new to the United States. This might depend on their educational history, time of the year, test results, and/or English level. Children who have already started school abroad are usually placed accordingly, but , if you think they were assigned to the wrong grade, you can always talk to the school staff. Specific accommodations can be discussed as well.
Children who are still learning English might be required to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes while taking other level-appropriate classes. For more specific information, please Please review Knox County’s English Language Learners program for more specific information.
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Public Schools in Knox County
As per the Knox County Schools website, the system has over 60,000 students in 91 schools, with around 7,900 staff. You can find the elementary, middle, and high schools assigned to your district through their School Zone Search. As a reference, you can use You can reference these rankings of the best public K-8 schools and the best high schools in Knox County.
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About Knox County Schools
Transportation to and from school
Click here to directly contact Knox County Schools directly.
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If you are looking for childcare resources, visit our Guide to Childcare in Tennessee and Finding a Program in Knoxville.
For more information and guides, please refer back to the Resource List available in on the ISSS website.