Public schools in Chattanooga, TN
48 open public schools with an address in Chattanooga, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
48
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
24,204
47 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
Not reported
Across reporting schools
Charter schools
7
10 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Chattanooga public schools
The federal directory lists 48 public schools in Chattanooga, TN: 25 elementary, 8 middle, 13 high, 2 combined or other. The 47 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 24,204 students, an average of 515 per school. The largest campus is The Howard School (1,329 students), and the largest elementary school is East Brainerd Elementary School (1,177).
Every listed school belongs to Hamilton County Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
School choice options include 7 charter schools, 10 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 13 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 7 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 6 of 13 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Chattanooga
Elementary schools in Chattanooga
25| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Crest Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | KG–05 | 302 | — | |
| Barger Academy of Fine Arts Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 349 | — | |
| Battle Academy for Teaching and Learning Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 494 | — | |
| Bess T Shepherd Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 546 | — | |
| Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 380 | — | |
| Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence Hamilton County Schools · Charter | KG–05 | 468 | — | |
| Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Lower Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | KG–05 | 388 | — | |
| Clifton Hills Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 703 | — | |
| DuPont Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | KG–05 | 268 | — | |
| East Brainerd Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 1,177 | — | |
| East Lake Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 626 | — | |
| East Ridge Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 959 | — | |
| East Side Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 553 | — | |
| Hardy Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 444 | — | |
| Harrison Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 775 | — | |
| Lookout Valley Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 256 | — | |
| Montessori Elementary at Highland Park School Hamilton County Schools · Charter | PK–05 | 372 | — | |
| Normal Park Museum Magnet School Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | PK–08 | 877 | — | |
| Orchard Knob Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 511 | — | |
| Red Bank Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 616 | — | |
| Rivermont Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 352 | — | |
| Spring Creek Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 698 | — | |
| Tommie F. Brown Academy School Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 299 | — | |
| Westview Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 631 | — | |
| Woodmore Elementary School Hamilton County Schools | PK–05 | 346 | — |
Middle schools in Chattanooga
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatt Academy Community School Hamilton County Schools · Charter | 06–08 | 93 | — | |
| Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence Middle Hamilton County Schools · Charter | 06–08 | 250 | — | |
| Dalewood Middle School Hamilton County Schools | 06–08 | 290 | — | |
| East Lake Academy Of Fine Arts Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 549 | — | |
| East Ridge Middle School Hamilton County Schools | 06–08 | 591 | — | |
| Howard Connect Academy Hamilton County Schools | 08–08 | 94 | — | |
| Orchard Knob Middle School Hamilton County Schools | 06–08 | 264 | — | |
| Red Bank Middle School Hamilton County Schools | 06–08 | 533 | — |
High schools in Chattanooga
13| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brainerd High School Hamilton County Schools | 09–12 | 739 | — | |
| Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence High Hamilton County Schools · Charter | 09–12 | 113 | — | |
| Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy Hamilton County Schools · Charter | 06–12 | 354 | — | |
| Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | 06–12 | 717 | — | |
| Chattanooga Preparatory School Hamilton County Schools · Charter | 06–12 | 539 | — | |
| Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | 06–12 | 741 | — | |
| East Ridge High School Hamilton County Schools | 09–12 | 867 | — | |
| Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State Hamilton County Schools | 09–12 | 141 | — | |
| Lookout Valley Middle / High School Hamilton County Schools | 06–12 | 309 | — | |
| Red Bank High School Hamilton County Schools | 09–12 | 772 | — | |
| STEM School Chattanooga Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 296 | — | |
| The Howard School Hamilton County Schools | 09–12 | 1,329 | — | |
| Tyner Middle High Academy Hamilton County Schools | 06–12 | — | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Chattanooga
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga School For The Liberal Arts Hamilton County Schools · Magnet | KG–12 | 979 | — | |
| Hamilton County Virtual School Hamilton County Schools · Virtual | KG–12 | 254 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White25.9%
- Hispanic30.5%
- Black33.8%
- Asian1.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial8.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 47 Chattanooga schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (24,204 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Chattanooga
How many public schools are in Chattanooga, TN?
The current NCES directory lists 48 open public schools with a location address in Chattanooga: 25 elementary, 8 middle, 13 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 24,204 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Chattanooga?
All listed public schools with an address in Chattanooga belong to Hamilton 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 Chattanooga?
The Howard School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Chattanooga, with 1,329 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Chattanooga?
Yes. 7 of the 48 public schools in Chattanooga are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Chatt Academy Community School, Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence, Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence High. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
Does living in Chattanooga 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