Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Cookeville’s public schools outscore 63% of Tennessee districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Cookeville, 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.
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.
Cookeville’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 237 Tennessee towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cookeville’s, its schools beat 72%, 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 ↓
Seven elementary schools, then two middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Putnam County VITAL, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓
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.
What’s behind Cookeville’s grade
B: better than 63% of Tennessee school districts, #72 of 176 Tennessee towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Tennessee average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cookeville, with each school’s own grade.
5th grade in Cookeville · depends on your address
Prescott South Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 813 students
Avery Trace Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 724 students
6th grade in Cookeville · depends on your address
Prescott South Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 813 students
Avery Trace Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 724 students
7th grade in Cookeville · depends on your address
Prescott South Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 813 students
Avery Trace Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 724 students
8th grade in Cookeville · depends on your address
Prescott South Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 813 students
Avery Trace Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 724 students
9th grade in Cookeville
Cookeville High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,241 students
10th grade in Cookeville
Cookeville High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,241 students
11th grade in Cookeville
Cookeville High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,241 students
12th grade in Cookeville
Cookeville High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,241 students
Cookeville’s public schools are run by Putnam County School District, which also serves Algood, Baxter 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.
Close to the state in reading
Cookeville vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Tennessee towns that share Cookeville’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Cookeville | B | Putnam County |
| Algood | B | Putnam County |
Every school in Cookeville
12 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).
Questions about Cookeville’s schools
Are Cookeville’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Tennessee: the public schools Cookeville children attend outscore 63% of Tennessee’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #72 of 176 Tennessee towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Cookeville in?
Putnam County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 11,776 students in 22 schools (2024–25).
Where do Cookeville kids go to high school?
Cookeville High School, with 2,241 students; its own test results earn a B.
What is Cookeville’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 Cookeville 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 Cookeville families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cookeville → 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.