Average
#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
Enrollment
72
Student-Teacher
7.2:1
Score
6.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
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 metricsRequires 2+ years of test data
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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%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
0.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Component weights adjusted due to data availability.
Test Scores TN TCAP (2024-25)
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.
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.
Explore More Schools
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
- Phone
- (865) 525-0069
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Knox County- District Enrollment
- 60,604
- Schools in District
- 94
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,187
- District Rank
- #53 of 88
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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