Unfunded Liability
$18M
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Knox County Teachers' DB Plan
Knox County Teachers' DB Plan tracked in full: funded ratio, unfunded liability, membership, and investment returns across 23 years, sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and verified against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Tennessee · Teachers Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 70.1%
- Health grade
- CReported funded ratio below full funding
- Market assets
- $42M
- Members
- 359
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Knox County Teachers' DB Plan is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; the multi-year table includes FY2024 where PPD published it; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
Total Members
359
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
10.6%
net investment return
3.2pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
7.4%
annualized, net of fees
How Knox County Teachers' DB Plan Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 70.1%
National avg
A ratio of 70.1% compared against the national public-pension average of 75.5%.
Healthy Threshold
Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.
Participant Composition
The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability, plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.
Investment Policy Mix
Public pension plans report their asset allocation in their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.
Historical Funded Ratio
| Year | Funded Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 70.4% |
| 2023 | 70.1% |
| 2022 | 77.5% |
| 2021 | 76.6% |
| 2020 | 75.3% |
| 2019 | 74.5% |
| 2018 | 75.5% |
| 2017 | 75.4% |
| 2016 | 77.1% |
| 2015 | 78.1% |
| 2014 | 79.8% |
| 2013 | 85.7% |
| 2012 | 87.3% |
| 2011 | 89.2% |
| 2010 | 92.2% |
| 2009 | 93.3% |
| 2008 | 95.7% |
| 2007 | 80.4% |
| 2006 | 79.0% |
| 2005 | 76.2% |
What the Data Says About Knox County Teachers' DB Plan
Knox County Teachers' DB Plan reports a funded ratio of 70.1% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $42M in market assets against an unfunded liability of $18M. As a Teachers plan operating under Tennessee sponsorship, it covers 359 members, 359 retirees drawing benefits).
Knox County Teachers' DB Plan shows a comfortably above-average funding position, 5 points below the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 7.4% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Tennessee taxpayers and plan members, the $18M unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.
Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved
These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.
Membership
359
Retirees
359
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Teachers
- State
- Tennessee
- Market Assets
- $42M
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Knox County Teachers' DB Plan's 70.1% funded ratio.
- Kansas City Schools 70.1%
- New Orleans Firefighters 70.1%
- Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System 70.3%
- Houston Police 70.4%
- Wisconsin Retirement System 70.5%
Other Tennessee Plans
- Nashville-Davidson Metropolitan Employees Benefit Trust Fund 95.8%
- Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System 72.0%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Knox County Teachers' DB Plan fully funded?
Knox County Teachers' DB Plan has a funded ratio of 70.1% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. Funded ratios are reported on each plan's actuarial basis, which can smooth investment gains and losses over time. A single percentage is therefore a comparison point rather than a complete forecast.
What happens if Knox County Teachers' DB Plan runs out of money?
The PPD records a plan's reported financial measures; it does not provide a guarantee analysis. Check the plan's official disclosures for jurisdiction-specific benefit and funding information.
What does a funded ratio of 70.1% mean?
A funded ratio of 70.1% means that Knox County Teachers' DB Plan currently has assets equal to 70.1% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $18M. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.
How does Knox County Teachers' DB Plan compare to other public pensions?
Knox County Teachers' DB Plan is a Teachers plan in Tennessee serving 359 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Knox County Teachers' DB Plan's funded ratio of 70.1% places it near the national average.
How many members does Knox County Teachers' DB Plan have?
Knox County Teachers' DB Plan covers 359 total members and 359 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability, when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.
Related
Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPension
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data sources used on this page
- Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
- NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org
Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.