Public schools in Carthage, TN
5 open public schools with an address in Carthage, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,786
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
Not reported
Across reporting schools
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Carthage public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Carthage, TN: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,786 students, an average of 357 per school. The largest campus is Smith County High School (476 students), and the largest elementary school is Carthage Elementary School (465).
Every listed school belongs to Smith County Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
School districts and agencies serving Carthage
Elementary schools in Carthage
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage Elementary School Smith County Schools | PK–04 | 465 | — | |
| Defeated Elementary School Smith County Schools | PK–08 | 288 | — | |
| Union Heights Elementary School Smith County Schools | PK–08 | 268 | — |
Middle schools in Carthage
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County Middle School Smith County Schools | 05–08 | 289 | — |
High schools in Carthage
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County High School Smith County Schools | 09–12 | 476 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White84.7%
- Hispanic7.3%
- Black1.9%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Carthage schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,786 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Carthage
How many public schools are in Carthage, TN?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Carthage: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 1,786 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Carthage?
All listed public schools with an address in Carthage belong to Smith County Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Carthage?
Smith County High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Carthage, with 476 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Carthage?
No school with an address in Carthage is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Tennessee.
Does living in Carthage guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Tennessee cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Tennessee cities