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Living in Oak Ridge ~ Local Schools

Recently rennovated LEED certified Oak Ridge High School

No matter what age or ambition, educational opportunities are limitless and highly regarded in Oak Ridge.  Oak Ridge Public Schools are often cited as among the nation's best.

Expansion Management magazine, urging companies to look at a community's schools to determine the quality of the workforce, has ranked Oak Ridge Schools among the top performing systems in the nation for 10 straight years. In 2007 Oak Ridge was the only school district in Tennessee to receive this honor.

All seven schools within the Oak Ridge Public School System are accredited by SACS. The system serves over 4,700 students and employs 334 teachers. Over 70% of teachers have a masters degree or above.

A sample of Oak Ridge Schools' recent accomplishments:

• Over 150 graduating seniors received special awards, scholarships or other types of recognition with monetary estimates in the excess of $7.2 million.
• Oak Ridge High School (ORHS) averages 8 National Merit Finalists each year and has graduated as many as 12 National Merit Scholars in one year.
• In its 2007 list of Best High Schools, Newsweek magazine ranked Oak Ridge High School one of the top 1300 high schools in the nation. Click here for a complete ORHS profile.
• Jefferson Middle School was one of 6 schools in Tennessee nominated for the prestigious Blue Ribbon Schools National Award.

Oak Ridge also has private school opportunities for families interested in those educational paths. St. Mary's Catholic School serves 223 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grades and is in the center of Oak Ridge. Several churches offer smaller school programs. A Montessori program is also offered and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society.

Roane State Community College

Nine locations across East Tennessee with a concentration in health sciences.  Roane State provides transfer and career preparation study options, as well as continuing education and developmental education.  A student can also earn a 4-year degree from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) without leaving the campus.  Roane State's Oak Ridge campus is its largest and is currently planning an expansion.

Click here for a listing of all post-secondary schools serving the region.