Schools & Education Information

Big Elk Resort is located in close proximity to the top universities in Tennessee.  These Universities contain a large number of Chinese and other international students.  Vanderbilt University which is located in Nashville, the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, the University of Memphis, Middle Tennessee State University and Georgia Tech offering undergraduate, master and doctorate programs.  Also, located just outside of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is King’s Academy, a private school for younger students that provides education in preparation for college level degrees.

University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee (also known as UT), is a public university in Knoxville. The University is ranked as one of the top in the South. Founded in 1794, it is the flagship institution of the statewide University of Tennessee system with nine undergraduate departments and eleven graduate departments and hosts almost 28,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries.Its ties to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, established under UT President Andrew Holt and continued under the UT-Battelle partnership, have positioned the University as co-manager and allow for considerable research opportunities for faculty and students enjoyed by few other institutions of comparable standing. Click here to visit the University of Tennessee Center for International and Diversity Education.

30% of the student population at The University of Tennessee is of Asian decent. The Chinese Students and Scholars Association can be found here.

The King's Academy

The King's Academy is a private, university preparatory school for day and boarding students. Located on 67 acres of gentle rolling foothills in Sevier County near the Great Smoky Mountains of scenic East Tennessee, the academy offers grades Pre-K through 12 to students of average and above average ability. Day students may enroll in all levels while, boarding students may enroll in grades 7-12.

The King's Academy have recently formalized a relationship with the Confucius Institute and thrilled to be offering Chinese language and cultural instruction on our campus. The King’s Academy has always been a college preparatory school. They offer a boarding opportunity for students in grades 7-12 and our students are able to attend the college of their choice if they work hard and we are able to help them they go to colleges all around the country and various parts of the world.

Visit King's Academy website.