Elementary School Instruction
Knox County operates 51 elementary schools that provide a positive learning experience by focusing on building excellence in foundational skills while providing elementary students with engaging experiences that spark curiosity and inspire a love of learning that will stay with them throughout their academic journey.

General Info
Curriculum
Curriculum includes the concepts and skills that students learn in class, the strategies teachers use to support their learning, and the methods used to measure student progress.
In KCS, we invest in high quality instructional materials that have been vetted and approved by the TN Department of Education. We are proud to provide students and teachers with the tools they need to ensure student success.
TN Standards
Tennessee Academic Standards are a common list of expectations for the skills students will be able to master by the end of each grade level.
Teachers use standards to determine what concepts and skills they will teach throughout the year.
Resources
The resources provided for each content area are designed to help parents support their student’s learning at home.
Find more information on textbooks here.
Testing / Assessments
An overview of testing requirements for the State of Tennessee can be found here.
Kindergarten
English Language Arts
Curriculum
Kindergarten classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called Benchmark Advance. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for the development of literacy skills and content knowledge.
Details on the Kindergarten reading curriculum can be found here.
TN ELA Standards
A list of the state standards for Kindergarten reading can be found here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our elementary schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more information about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
TN Math Standards
A list of the standards for Kindergarten math can be found here.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Science
Curriculum
Kindergarten classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called SOLID Start. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for developing literacy skills and content knowledge through investigations, reading, writing, and discussion.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher or view parent letters for each unit.
Social Studies
Curriculum
In Kindergarten, your child will learn about the world around them as their teachers utilize the curriculum Studies Weekly.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Encore Classes
The value of Encore education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Encore classes reach the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Encore courses.
The most commonly offered classes across the district are:
Art, Library, Music & Performing Arts, STEM, World Languages and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.
FIRST GRADE
English Language Arts
Curriculum
1st grade classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called Benchmark Advance. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for the development of literacy skills and content knowledge.
Details on the 1st grade reading curriculum can be found here.
TN ELA Standards
A list of the state standards for 1st grade ELA can be found here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our elementary schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on building developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Science
Curriculum
1st grade classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called SOLID Start. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for developing literacy skills and content knowledge through investigations, reading, writing, and discussion.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher or view parent letters for each unit.
Social Studies
Curriculum
In 1st grade, your child will learn about Tennessee's place in the United States as their teachers utilize the curriculum Studies Weekly.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Encore Classes
The value of Encore education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Encore classes reach the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Encore courses.
The most commonly offered classes across the district are:
Art, Library, Music & Performing Arts, STEM, World Languages and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.
SECOND GRADE
English Language Arts
Curriculum
2nd grade classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called Benchmark Advance. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for the development of literacy skills and content knowledge.
Details on the 2nd grade reading curriculum can be found here.
TN ELA Standards
A list of the standards for 2nd grade ELA can be found here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our elementary schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on building developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Science
Curriculum
2nd grade classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called SOLID Start. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for developing literacy skills and content knowledge through investigations, reading, writing, and discussion.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher or view parent letters for each unit.
Social Studies
Curriculum
In 2nd grade, your student will learn about United States geography, history, culture, government, civics, and economics. The curriculum utilized in 2nd grade classrooms is Studies Weekly.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, speak to your student’s teacher.
Encore Classes
The value of Encore education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Encore classes reach the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Encore courses.
The most commonly offered classes across the district are:
Art, Library, Music & Performing Arts, STEM, World Languages and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.
THIRD GRADE
English Language Arts
Curriculum
3rd grade classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called Benchmark Advance. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for the development of literacy skills and content knowledge.
Details on the 3rd grade reading curriculum can be found here.
Learn more about state laws regarding the promotion of students from third grade to fourth grade here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our elementary schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on building developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Science
Curriculum
3rd grade classrooms across the district use a curriculum called Smithsonian Science for the Classroom. These units engage students in hands-on investigations and real-world problem solving that help them build strong science and critical-thinking skills.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher or view parent letters for each unit.
Social Studies
Curriculum
In 3rd grade, students will gain a strong foundation in world geography, economics, and the early history of Tennessee and the United States. TN Experience, Grade 3 by Gallopade is the curriculum used to support students in their learning.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Encore Classes
The value of Encore education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Encore classes reach the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Encore courses.
The most commonly offered classes across the district are:
Art, Library, Music & Performing Arts, STEM, World Languages and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.
FOURTH GRADE
English Language Arts
Curriculum
4th grade classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called Benchmark Advance. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for the development of literacy skills and content knowledge.
Details on the 4th grade reading curriculum can be found here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our elementary schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on building developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Science
Curriculum
4th grade classrooms across the district use a curriculum called Smithsonian Science for the Classroom. These units engage students in hands-on investigations and real-world problem solving that help them build strong science and critical-thinking skills.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher or view parent letters for each unit.
Social Studies
Curriculum
In 4th grade, students will gain a foundation in the history of the United States starting with the American revolution through Reconstruction. TN Experience, Grade 4 by Gallopade is the curriculum used to support students learn about the history of the United States.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Encore Classes
The value of Encore education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Encore classes reach the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Encore courses.
The most commonly offered classes across the district are:
Art, Library, Music & Performing Arts, STEM, World Languages and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.
FIFTH GRADE
English Language Arts
Curriculum
5th grade classrooms across the district utilize a curriculum called Benchmark Advance. This curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans and guides that provide a cohesive structure for the development of literacy skills and content knowledge.
Details on the 5th grade reading curriculum can be found here.
Mathematics
Curriculum
All of our elementary schools use the math curriculum iReady Classroom Mathematics that focuses on building developing mathematical reasoning and the skills to become real-world problem solvers.
Click here to learn more about iReady Classroom Mathematics.
TN Math Standards
A list of the standards for 5th grade math can be found here.
Resources
For directions on how to access i-Ready Connect for KCS students and Families, click here.
Directions for how to add the “Math Support Page” to your family portal on Aspen can be found here.
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Science
Curriculum
5th grade classrooms across the district use a curriculum called Smithsonian Science for the Classroom. These units engage students in hands-on investigations and real-world problem solving that help them build strong science and critical-thinking skills.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher or view parent letters for each unit.
Social Studies
Curriculum
In 5th grade, students will learn about the Industrialization Period through the Civil Rights Movement as well as the history of Tennessee. TN Experience, Grade 5 by Gallopade is the curriculum used to help students learn about the history of the United States.
Resources
Find more information on textbooks here.
For more detailed information on what your child will be learning in class, contact your student’s teacher.
Encore Classes
The value of Encore education is helping kids find their voice, rounding out their education and tapping into their undiscovered talents. Encore classes reach the “human side” of every student, encouraging and developing important 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Across the district we offer a wide selection of Encore courses.
The most commonly offered classes across the district are:
Art, Library, Music & Performing Arts, STEM, World Languages and Physical Education (PE).
For an official list of the related arts classes offered at your child’s school, call or visit your school’s website.
Find more information on textbooks here.