Facilities Department

Knox County operates 88 schools, including 50 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, 12 high schools, one Center School for Dropouts, two vocational centers, three special education centers, and two early childhood development centers.

The Facilities Department is charged with the long-range planning, development, and construction of new facilities and the remodeling/additions to current facilities. The Facilities Department works closely with the maintenance department.

All buildings are maintained by the Knox County Schools Maintenance Department. Fifty-five percent of all schools have new or extensively renovated buildings since 1968.

Because of rapid increase in enrollment over the past two decades, some temporary classrooms are still in service. The Superintendent and School Board are committed to a major reduction in the number of these facilities. However, as long as population shifts occur, it is necessary to maintain some capability for rapid placement of temporary classrooms. During recent years the most noticeable and rapid growth has occurred in the western portion of the county.

Time line of a major project - what it takes to build a school

Planning and building for the future of Knox County Schools is no easy task. Each project requires the cooperation of several governing bodies and must follow explicit guidelines. This is a sample 'timeline' of a hypothetical project.

Mission Statement

The Facilities Department of Knox County Schools will strive to develop and maintain a program to design and build quality buildings that are easily completed on time and under budget and are easily maintained to ensure a safe and effective environment for learning.