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#1017 of 1,785 schools in TN

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy

High School · Knox County

535 Chickamauga Avenue AVE, Knoxville, TN 37917

Enrollment

72

Student-Teacher

7.2:1

Score

6.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Knoxville

#45 of 82

public schools

Tennessee high schools

#185 of 361

In district

#53 of 88

Knox County

School environment

9.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy serves grades 9-12 in Knoxville, Tennessee, with just 72 students creating an intimate learning environment.

This small public high school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.2:1 with 10 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention that larger schools often cannot provide. The school has earned recognition for its performance, receiving a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranking #131 out of 1,796 Tennessee schools, placing it in the impressive 93rd percentile statewide. This strong ranking suggests the academy is successfully serving its student body despite its modest size.

Located on Chickamauga Avenue in the 37917 ZIP code area, the school sits in a diverse neighborhood where the median household income is $47,245 and about 30% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding community has a median home value of $165,400, with a poverty rate of 20.5% among the area's 25,418 residents. Dr.

Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy operates within Knoxville's mid-size city environment, offering students the benefits of both small-school intimacy and urban opportunities in Tennessee's Knox County.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 72 students, Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.2:1, Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Partial Profile · 3/4 metrics
Student ProgressNot Available

Requires 2+ years of test data

Academics1.4Significantly Below Average33%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency7.7%
Math vs. State Avg-31.5 pts
Overall Proficiency8%
Expected (poverty-adj.)47%
vs. Expected-38.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile1th
College Readiness7.9Very Good40%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.0Exceptional27%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,538

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy — Students at Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy score 8% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Component weights adjusted due to data availability.

Test Scores TN TCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 7.7%
School
State
39.2%
ELA Proficiency N/A
School
State
N/A

Based on 1 test record from TN state assessments. About our data

How Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy Compares

See how Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.0/10
43th percentile in TN
Academic
1.4/10
1.4/10
Environment
9.0/10
Above average

Location

535 Chickamauga Avenue AVE, Knoxville, TN 37917

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy may also want to explore other high schools in the area. L N STEM Academy (rated 8.5/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Fulton High School (rated 5.3/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Knoxville, see our Knoxville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Christenberry Elementary Knoxville 0.6 mi 7.3
Tennessee Virtual Academy Knoxville 0.9 mi 3.8
Tennessee Virtual Junior High School Knoxville 0.9 mi 2.3
Fulton High School Knoxville 0.9 mi 5.3
FIRST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Knoxville 1.4 mi 5.8
Inskip Elementary Knoxville 1.3 mi 4.9
Lonsdale Elementary Knoxville 1.5 mi 5.2
Beaumont Elementary/Magnet Knoxville 1.7 mi 6.9
Belle Morris Elementary Knoxville 1.4 mi 5.8
Whittle Springs Middle School Knoxville 1.6 mi 5.0
Maynard Elementary Knoxville 2.2 mi 6.1
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Knoxville 2.1 mi 6.8
Emerald Academy Knoxville 2.3 mi 6.1
Sterchi Elementary Knoxville 2.3 mi 5.3
L N STEM Academy Knoxville 2.6 mi 8.5
West View Elementary Knoxville 2.6 mi 5.9
Gresham Middle School Knoxville 2.7 mi 4.4
SMART KIDS ELC Knoxville 2.4 mi
Fountain City Elementary Knoxville 2.8 mi 7.0
Green Magnet Math And Science Academy Knoxville 2.6 mi 4.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 37917 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$51,232

Median Home Value

$189,100

Median Rent

$1,063/mo

Population

25,738

College Educated

31.3%

Homeownership

48.1%

Avg Commute

21.8 min

Poverty Rate

19.3%

Median Age

39.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy has a median household income of $51,232. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $189,100, with a median rent of $1,063/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.3%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Daniel McKee Alternative School Murfreesboro, TN 5.9
Smyrna West Alternative School Smyrna, TN 6.1
Tennessee School for the Deaf Upper School Knoxville, TN 5.9
Jefferson Virtual Academy Strawberry Plains, TN 5.8
Siam Learning Center Elizabethton, TN 5.8
ARCHON ACADEMY Bartlett, TN 5.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy

What grades does Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy serve?

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy?

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy has an enrollment of approximately 72 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy is 7.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy rank in TN?

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy is ranked #1017 out of 1,785 schools in TN.

What is Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy has a composite rating of 6.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy has 7.7% math proficiency.

Is Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy a charter school?

No, Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy a Title I school?

No, Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (3,466/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Knoxville). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
72
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
10
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Knox County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Knox County
District Enrollment
60,604
Schools in District
94
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,187
District Rank
#53 of 88

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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