This study aims to determine the relationship between prior knowledge with creative thinking ability of students in grade XI science at public school of Takalar. This research is ex post facto. The population in this research is was all students in grade XI science at public school of Takalar consisting of 39 classes with a total enrollment in 1537 people. Technique collecting sample using stratified purposive random sampling and selected grade XI Science SMAN 1 Takalar, SMAN 3 Takalar, SMAN 1 Polongbangkeng Selatan, and SMAN 3 Polongbangkeng Utara consist of 134 learners. The data was collected by using prior knowledge test consist of 16 items (α = 0.883) and verbal creativity test consist of 18 items (α = 0.808). Data were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis, The coefficient correlation between the two variables is 0.619 with p = 0.000 (p <0.05). This value indicates that there is a relationship between prior knowledge with creative thinking ability in chemistry and relationship between the two variables is a positive relationship
