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Average

#191 of 284 private schools in TN

Rhea County Academy

School

245 CALIFORNIA AVE, Dayton, TN 37321

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on TN statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

135

Student-Teacher

9.7:1

Score

5.8

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Tennessee schools

#83 of 138

About Rhea County Academy

Rhea County Academy serves 135 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Dayton, Tennessee, offering an intimate educational environment with a student-teacher ratio of 9.7:1. This regular public school operates with 14 full-time equivalent teachers, ensuring personalized attention for each student throughout their academic journey. The school has earned recognition for its educational quality, receiving a MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranking #94 out of 284 schools statewide, placing it in the 67th percentile among Tennessee schools.

This strong performance reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education in a smaller school setting where students can develop meaningful relationships with both peers and faculty. The academy's compact size allows for a close-knit learning community where students can participate across grade levels and receive individualized support. The low student-teacher ratio creates opportunities for differentiated instruction and helps ensure that students don't get lost in the crowd.

Located on California Avenue in Dayton, Rhea County Academy serves a community where the median household income is $56,844 and 17% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The school sits in a town setting that provides students with a sense of community connection while preparing them for their next educational or career steps.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 135 students, Rhea County 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 9.7:1, Rhea County 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.

As a private school, Rhea County Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2018 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$3,034
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$3,478
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.15x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
95%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$500,105

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 135 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Rhea County Academy compares to the 4 public schools in Dayton, TN

Student-Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
This School
vs
13:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
135
This School
vs
503
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
5.8
This School
vs
6.5
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 97% vs 0%
Hispanic 3% vs 0%
Rhea County Academy Dayton Public Avg

All Schools in Dayton

School Rating
Rhea County Academy (this school) 5.8
Dayton City Elementary 7.2
Rhea Central Elementary 8.2
Frazier Elementary 6.2
Graysville Elementary School 4.5

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in TN.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B 6.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 9.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 6.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,260
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C 2.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 6%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A 8.7 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 135
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in TN

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 97.0%
Hispanic 3.0%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

245 CALIFORNIA AVE, Dayton, TN 37321

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Rhea County Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. Cecil B Rigsby Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 8.1 miles away, in nearby Pikeville), which scores notably higher. Another option is Spring City Middle School (rated 8.3/10, 16.3 miles away, in nearby Spring City), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Spring City Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 16.7 miles away, in nearby Spring City), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Dayton, see our Dayton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 17.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Dayton City Elementary Dayton 0.3 mi 7.2
Rhea Central Elementary Dayton 0.7 mi 8.2
Graysville Elementary School Dayton 4.4 mi 4.5
Frazier Elementary Dayton 4.2 mi 6.2
Rhea County High School Evensville 8.0 mi 7.0
Rhea Middle School Evensville 8.1 mi 8.0
Cecil B Rigsby Elementary Pikeville 8.1 mi 8.3
Sale Creek Middle / High School Sale Creek 8.8 mi 6.9
Meigs South Elementary Decatur 9.7 mi 6.8
North Hamilton County Elementary School Sale Creek 11.6 mi 7.0
Pikeville Elementary Pikeville 11.8 mi 7.2
Bledsoe County High School Pikeville 12.9 mi 7.8
Bledsoe County Middle School Pikeville 12.8 mi 7.5
Meigs County High School Decatur 12.9 mi 6.3
Meigs Middle School Decatur 13.4 mi 7.3
Soddy Elementary School Soddy Daisy 15.9 mi 7.8
Spring City Middle School Spring City 16.3 mi 8.3
Spring City Elementary Spring City 16.7 mi 8.3
CANDIES CREEK ACADEMY Charleston 17.6 mi 6.7
Soddy Daisy Middle School Soddy Daisy 17.8 mi 4.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 37321 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$59,182

Median Home Value

$168,000

Median Rent

$819/mo

Population

20,670

College Educated

18.4%

Homeownership

70.1%

Avg Commute

26.8 min

Poverty Rate

14.3%

Median Age

38.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Rhea County Academy has a median household income of $59,182. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $168,000, with a median rent of $819/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.3%. The average commute for residents is 27 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
CLEVELAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Cleveland, TN 5.8
MNPS Virtual School Nashville, TN 5.8
VICTORY BAPTIST ACADEMY Shelbyville, TN 5.8
CHRIST'S LEGACY ACADEMY Athens, TN 5.7
Clinch School Sneedville, TN 5.7
METRO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Goodlettsville, TN 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Rhea County Academy

What grades does Rhea County Academy serve?

Rhea County Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Rhea County Academy?

Rhea County Academy has an enrollment of approximately 135 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Rhea County Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Rhea County Academy is 9.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Rhea County Academy rank in TN?

Rhea County Academy is ranked #191 out of 284 private schools in TN.

What is Rhea County Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Rhea County Academy has a composite rating of 5.8 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.

Is Rhea County Academy a private school?

Yes, Rhea County Academy is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Rhea County Academy a religious school?

Rhea County Academy has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (1,688/100K)

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
135
Gender Split
61% M / 39% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Distant Town
County
RHEA
Data Year
2022–2023

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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