Public schools in Knoxville are run by Knox County Schools. Find your zoned school, the 2026-27 calendar, enrollment steps and the state report card.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from Knox County Schools: its calendar, enrollment and Board of Education pages, and from the Tennessee Department of Education’s state report card and 2025 district accountability pages.

Every public school in Knoxville, with its zone and report card: Knoxville public schools.

Public schools in Knoxville are run by Knox County Schools, which serves the City of Knoxville and the rest of Knox County. Every child enrolls at the zoned school for their home address, found with the KGIS school zone search. For enrollment and transfer questions, call the district’s Office of Enrollment and Transfers at 865-594-1502.

Who to call

The 2026-27 calendar

Date What happens
Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 First day for students (half day)
Monday, Sept. 7 Labor Day, schools closed
Oct. 5-9 Fall break
Friday, Oct. 16 End of the first nine weeks
Tuesday, Nov. 3 In-service day, no school for students
Nov. 25-27 Thanksgiving, schools closed
Friday, Dec. 18 Half day; end of the first semester
Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 Winter break
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027 Students return (full day)
Monday, Jan. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, schools closed
Monday, Feb. 15 In-service day, no school for students
March 8-12 Spring break
Friday, March 26, and Monday, March 29 Holidays, schools closed
Wednesday, April 7 In-service day, no school for students
Wednesday, May 26 Last day for students (half day)

Students also have half days on Sept. 16, Nov. 18, Jan. 27 and March 24. The calendar has 180 instructional days and allows up to eight days to be canceled for bad weather or illness before makeup days are needed. The district posts a printer-friendly calendar and next year’s dates on the same page.

How to enroll

All registration takes place at your zoned school and must be done by a parent or legal guardian. Knox County Schools does not accept enrollment papers by email. Bring the completed, printed enrollment packet and:

  • Proof of birth: a government-issued birth certificate, passport or immigration documents.
  • Immunization records: the Tennessee Department of Health immunization certificate signed by the child’s doctor or the Knox County Health Department.
  • A physical exam from within the past year.
  • Proof of residence: a gas, water or electric bill or a lease. If it is in someone else’s name, that person must provide it with a notarized letter.
  • Proof of custody, if it applies.
  • The name and address of the previous school, which the new school contacts for records.

Children starting preschool or kindergarten can attend Kindergarten Roundup at their zoned school each spring. Families who want a school other than the zoned one can apply for a transfer.

Ratings and report cards

The Tennessee Department of Education rated Knox County Schools an “Advancing” district for 2024-25, the second-highest of five ratings (Exemplary, Advancing, Satisfactory, Marginal and In Need of Improvement). The district had been rated Satisfactory. The state’s ratings weigh test scores, growth, chronic absenteeism, college and career readiness and progress for English learners.

For any school’s test results, letter grade, attendance and graduation rate, look it up on the Tennessee state report card. Letter grades are only one view; the report card also shows growth, which measures how much students improved in a year.

The school board

The Knox County Board of Education has nine members, elected by district to four-year terms, plus a nonvoting student representative. Each September the board picks a chair and vice chair. It debates at work sessions twice a month and votes at its regular monthly meeting. Meetings are streamed and archived on the district’s KCS TV YouTube channel.

Coming up: the board holds a two-day workshop starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Covenant Health Park, and continues at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Its Special Question Committee meets at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at Summer Place, 500 W. Summit Hill Drive.

What this means for you

  • Moving to Knoxville? Check the zone for the exact address before you sign a lease or buy; zones follow streets, not ZIP codes.
  • Plan ahead: Election Day, Nov. 3, is a student holiday, and spring break 2027 is March 8-12.

Related guides: Friday night football, moving to Knoxville and voting in Knox County.

Zoned schools neighborhood by neighborhood are in our Knoxville neighborhoods guide.

Frequently asked questions

What school district is Knoxville in?

Knox County Schools. It runs the public schools for the City of Knoxville and the rest of Knox County, under a nine-member Knox County Board of Education elected by district.

When is spring break for Knox County Schools in 2027?

March 8-12, 2027. The last day for students is a half day on Wednesday, May 26, 2027.

How do I find my zoned school in Knoxville?

Enter your address in the KGIS school zone search. Enrollment takes place at the zoned school; questions go to the Office of Enrollment and Transfers at 865-594-1502.

When is Thanksgiving break for Knox County Schools?

Schools are closed Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Nov. 27, 2026. Students are also off Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day, for an in-service day.

How is Knox County Schools rated?

The Tennessee Department of Education rated Knox County Schools an Advancing district for 2024-25, up from Satisfactory. School-by-school results are on the state report card.