Age, Grade Level, and School Location
Your child’s age and grade level are the indicators of the right school level: elementary, middle, or high school.

Age
Your child’s age is your first indicator of his or her eligibility for beginning school. Students may start kindergarten if they turn five on or before August 15. A
child does not have to enroll in school at age five, but must enroll no later than his or her sixth birthday. TCA 49-6-3001a, b, c.

Voluntary Pre-K program in some districts. Enrollment in the Voluntary Pre-K program is based upon a child’s eligibility as identified in TCA 49-6-101─104.* Available space in each school system is limited and is based on the funding awarded each year through a grant process. Children must be four years old by Aug. 15 prior to the new school year and reside in the area served by the school district. No child who is age eligible for kindergarten (five years of age on or before Aug. 15 prior to the new school year) may be enrolled in pre-K.
*http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/tncode/

Grade Level
Schools are traditionally organized by grade bands.

• Elementary school: Pre-kindergarten, Kindergarten, and grades 1-5. Some districts include grade 6 in the elementary school
• Middle school: Grades 6-8
• High school: Grades 9-12

Most schools follow this grade distribution, though some districts may include a sixth grade or ninth grade school/academy to help students adjust to middle school and high school. A few other arrangements exist in some districts, such as grades K-8 in one school.

The following link gives information about public, charter, non-public schools, and home schooling.
https://www.tn.gov/education/school-options.html

School Location
Which actual school is your child to attend?

Your residence address determines which actual school building your child will attend. In some districts, specialized magnet schools and academies may accept students from multiple zones; criteria for magnet and academy school eligibility are available directly from those districts. Additional attendance zoning exceptions may occur from district to district; policies regarding exceptions are also available directly from those districts.

District and Individual School Information
You may access your county’s district information either of the following ways:

•  Click on either of these two links:
  • https://k-12.education.tn.gov/sde/CreateDistrictList.asp?status=A&activeonly=Y It opens to a page with all the county/district names. Under the district name is the superintendent/director’s name. The address of the district office follows. Clicking on the name of the district links you to a page with phone numbers and web addresses for contacting the district. On the right side of the page (before clicking on the district name) there is a link to schools in the district, active and inactive. Clicking on the “active” link takes you to a list of all schools in the district, addresses, phones, principal’s name, and the grades served by the individual school. Some schools have included a hyperlinked web address for the school. If no web address is listed, contact the school or district at the phone number provided for that information. Also on the right side of the page is a link to the CORE office which is the regional office overseeing information and needs for that district. These offices are used by the district; they are not intended for parents to access.
  • A link above the county name, “Active District Schools,” takes you to a list of all schools in that district with their addresses, phone numbers, principal’s name, and other basic information. Each school name is linked to a page with the school address and phone number. If you already know which school your child will attend, you may contact the school directly. Some school Websites show zoning maps or zone assignments to help you locate your child’s school. A district office phone also appears on that page. If the district Website does not guide you to the information you need, call the district office. They will assist you in finding that information. A school’s web address usually has a Parent link. Information about attendance zones may be found here if multiple schools exist for your student’s grade level.

School websites are also listed on individual TDOE district pages. They are not hyper-linked. Go to the district’s web address and access the Parent link. Information about attendance zones may be found here if multiple schools exist for your student’s grade level. A link above the county name, “Active District Schools,” takes you to a list of all schools in that district with their addresses, phone numbers, principal’s name, and other basic information. Each school name is linked to a page with the school address and phone number. If you already know which school your child will attend, you may contact the school directly. Some school Websites show zoning maps or zone assignments to help you locate your child’s school. A district office phone also appears on that page. If the district Website does not guide you to the information you need, call the district office. They will assist you in finding that information.*Copy and paste the school address into your browser window OR you can go to the district site and access each school from there. In the actual district Website, schools’ Websites are hyperlinked.

NOTE: Because each district maintains its own Website, there is not a consistent format or heading title for locating the details of how to enroll; use the search window or an identified link on the site to help find your child’s correct school. It may be necessary to call the district office for assistance.

• https://www.greatschools.org/schools/districts/tennessee/TN/
  This site provides information about schools when you click the county name. It includes data about the schools, academics, and the local community as it relates to schools. There are phone numbers for the schools, so you can contact them for more information.

Changes in School Zones
In districts with multiple schools for each level, zones may change occasionally. It is important to check your residence zoning regardless of what it has been in previous years. Some districts provide a ‘Transportation’ link to guide you through finding the appropriate zone for your child’s school.

Transportation and Buses
Information about available transportation and details regarding school bus routes is available from the school or by contacting the district Transportation Department. Some districts include a Transportation link that may provide the needed information.