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Buffalo Valley SchoolBuffalo Valley School · Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0
B
Schools in Baxter · Putnam County School District

Baxter’s public schools outscore 63% of Tennessee districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Baxter, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Tennessee, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Tennessee state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
37%
▲ 0 pts vs TN 37%
2021–22
Math proficiency
33%
▲ 2 pts vs TN 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▲ 1 pts vs TN 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.0K
▼ 8% vs TN $13.1K
FY2024
Schools in town
4
2,455 students on the public path
In brief

Baxter’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 245 Tennessee towns with household incomes within a quarter of Baxter’s, its schools beat 69%, higher than their 63% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 37% and math 33% in spring 2022, against 37% and 31% statewide; 88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,973 per student, against $13,059 across Tennessee (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 2 the district’s path is Cornerstone Elementary, then Upperman Middle School, then Upperman High School. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Baxter’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 63% of Tennessee school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Tennessee average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Tennessee school districts we grade (147)Better than 63%
Lower resultsHigher results
Tennessee towns with similar household incomes (245)Better than 69%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 7,208 test results and a graduating class of 897 could put Baxter anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Baxter’s students in the tested grades sat them (7,536 in math, 6,881 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Baxter, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–1Baxter PrimaryPutnam County School DistrictNo scores
2–4Cornerstone ElementaryPutnam County School DistrictA−
5–8Upperman Middle SchoolPutnam County School DistrictC+
9–12Upperman High SchoolPutnam County School DistrictC+

Baxter’s public schools are run by Putnam County School District, which also serves Algood, Cookeville and Monterey. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Putnam County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 22 schools · 11,776 students, up 1% since 2020–21
$11,973TN $13,059 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading37%
State average 36.8% · 6881 students tested
Math33%
State average 31.1% · 7536 students tested

Baxter vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Tennessee towns that share Baxter’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BaxterBPutnam County

Every school in Baxter

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Tennessee’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Baxterby address
Baxter Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–1
327 studentsRate it →
Cornerstone Elementary
Elementary · Grades 2–4
A−
378 studentsRate it →
Upperman Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
C+
851 studentsRate it →
Upperman High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
899 studentsRate it →

Questions about Baxter’s schools

Are Baxter’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Tennessee: the public schools Baxter children attend outscore 63% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 69%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Baxter in?

Putnam County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 11,776 students in 22 schools (2024–25).

Where do Baxter kids go to high school?

Upperman High School, with 899 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Baxter’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in Putnam County School District graduated in four years, against 87% across Tennessee.

How much does Baxter spend per student?

$11,973 in Putnam County School District (FY2024), against $13,059 across Tennessee. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Baxter families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Baxter → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Tennessee. Stars are from neighbors.