Average
#724 of 1,786 schools in TN
Top 41% in state
Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy
High School · Knox County · Knoxville, TN
A Knox County high school where students score 31 points below what's typical for similar communities.
535 Chickamauga Avenue AVE, Knoxville, TN 37917
- Math 8% vs TN 39% (2025)
- Reading 25% proficient (2015)
- 87.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy score 16% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 TCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TN average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 17 points since 2013, to 8% in 2025, across a 14-year record (2012–2025).
Show all 5 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 16% (multi-year average, 2012-2025) · reading/ELA 25% (multi-year average, 2012-2015)
Based on 6 test records from TN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 42Car-Dependent
- Transit 29Some Transit
- Bike 32Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,466/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Knoxville), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$51,232
Median home value
$189,100
Median rent
$1,063/mo
College educated
31.3%
Homeownership
48.1%
Poverty rate
19.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 37917; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 9–12 | 0.9 mi | 927 | Compare → |
| Smart Kids ElcPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–11 | 2.4 mi | 10 | Compare → |
| Knoxville Baptist ChristianPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 1–10 | 2.5 mi | 12 | Compare → |
| Berean Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.2private | PK–12 | 2.6 mi | 410 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Knox County
- Schools in district
- 94
- Rank in district
- #27 of 88
- District spending per student
- $11,187NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy is listed in Knox County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy
Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy is a public high school in Knoxville, TN, part of Knox County, serving approximately 72 students in grades 9th-12th with a 7.2:1 student-teacher ratio.
It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #724 of 1,786 schools in TN. State assessment records show 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2015).
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 ranks #724 of 1,786 schools in TN.
What is Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy has 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2015).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 72
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Knox County
- Phone
- (865) 525-0069
- 4-Year Graduation
- 87.0%
- Area population (ZIP 37917)
- 25,738
- Area average commute
- 21.8 min
- Area median age
- 39.5
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 TCAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 TCAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2015 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2015 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 37917; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2012-2025, multi-year average, 2012-2015; directory SY 2023–24
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