Knox County Schools
About Us
Knox County Schools proudly serves approximately 60,000 students every day. The third-largest public school system in the state and one of the largest in the nation, KCS spans more than 508 square miles of rural, urban, and suburban communities, including the City of Knoxville and Town of Farragut.
The Superintendent of KCS is appointed by the Board of Education and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the school system. Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk began his tenure in June 2022 having previously served as the Chief Academic Officer for the district after working as an assistant superintendent, principal, and teacher.
The KCS District Office is organized into five divisions: Academics; Business and Talent; Operations; Strategy; and Student Success.
Schools are similarly organized into five regions. The regional model provides for rapid support and supervision of the district's 90+ schools.
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district Calendar
Knox County Schools follows an academic calendar approved by the Board of Education that identifies the first and last day of school; student and teacher in-service days; early release days; school holidays; and grading periods.
These calendars are detailed by school year.
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School schedules & Feeder Patterns
A school schedule is the foundation of a student’s academic experience, providing structure and consistency throughout the year.
Knox County Schools believes in creating a balanced schedule that promotes both academic success and personal well-being. Whether it's navigating class periods, lunch breaks, or extracurricular activities, KCS is committed to ensuring that schedules support a positive and productive environment for all.
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Safety
The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community are KCS's highest priorities. We are committed to fostering a secure and supportive environment where everyone can learn and grow with confidence. Our approach to safety is holistic, encompassing physical security through trained officers in every school and emergency preparedness, emotional safety through mental health resources and supportive practices, and internet safety with digital safeguards and intentional digital literacy education. We aim to create a secure and nurturing environment to ensure that every school day is as safe as it is productive.
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IMPACT
Public education is an enormous responsibility, and KCS recognizes the importance of accountability and transparency, particularly in student performance and resource management.
The district uses multiple metrics to measure success including graduation rates, state test scores; student growth data, and attendance. Knox County Schools does more than disclose results and is excited to showcase the measurable outcomes of our biggest initiatives.
Here, you’ll find valuable information organized to keep our stakeholders informed about and engaged with the ongoing work and progress of our schools.
For those interested in a deeper dive, some commonly requested reports have been made available for download.
Whether you're a parent, educator, community member, or policymaker, this page serves as a resource to understand the tangible impacts of our efforts.
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Budget
Knox County Schools is committed to transparency in all that we do. Our budget outlines the fiscal plans to support programs to be conducted during the fiscal year which begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the following year.
The largest portions of the district’s annual funding come from Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funds and local option sales taxes from Knox County, the City of Knoxville, and the Town of Farragut.
Most of the federal funding received by the district comes in the form of grants for Title I, II, II, and IV programs; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) services; school nutrition reimbursements; and a few other sources.
The budget is prepared by the Superintendent, made available to the public, adopted by the Board of Education, and submitted to the County Mayor for inclusion in the county general purpose budget approved by County Commission.
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Strategic planning
Strategic planning in Knox County Schools serves as a dynamic framework to address challenges, capitalize on opportunities, and encourage innovation with the aim of providing an equitable, high-quality education for all students.
The Knox County Board of Education adopted Strategic Plan 2019-2024 to define priorities, outline objectives, guide work, and ensure the alignment of educational initiatives with their long-term vision for the district. As the current five-year strategic plan draws to a close, KCS, under the direction of the Knox County Board of Education, is actively developing a new five-year strategic plan set to launch in 2025.
Knox County Schools uses an Annual Action Plan (AAP) to evaluate current data and set objectives that will help ensure we’re where we want to be five years from now. Results of the AAP are presented in an Annual Report to the board in January.
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work with kcs
Great educators are core to the mission of KCS. As good stewards of public education, we understand their impact extends far beyond the classroom by the leaders, innovators, and changemakers of tomorrow. Finding, recruiting, and supporting those educators is an investment in the future of Knox County we don’t take lightly.
Our teachers bring their own creativity, experience, and passion to the classroom while the district provides comprehensive supports that enable the provision of high-quality instruction focused on learning and engagement.
There are a number of meaningful career opportunities available in our schools. Join our team--we’re shaping minds, encouraging growth, and building a legacy of excellence in Knox County.