Best Schools in Cookeville, Tennessee
18 schools · 8 Elementary · 4 Middle · 2 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Cookeville?
Use this page to compare every school in Cookeville by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Dodson Branch Elementary
Elementary · Jackson County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Prescott South Elementary
Elementary · Putnam County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Capshaw Elementary
Elementary · Putnam County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Cookeville for 2026 are Dodson Branch Elementary (9.2/10), Prescott South Elementary (9.0/10), and Capshaw Elementary (8.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
18
15 public · 3 private
Avg Score
7.4
out of 10
Median Home
$250,600
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
18
15 public · 3 private
Avg Score
7.4
out of 10
Median Home
$250,600
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Cookeville
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (15 of 18). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodson Branch Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Prescott South Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Capshaw Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Cane Creek Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Northeast Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Park View Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Jere Whitson Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Algood Middle School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Prescott South Middle School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Avery Trace Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.4/10
- Median household income
- $56,987
- Median home value
- $250,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 31%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 60%
67% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Cookeville compares
Tennessee rank
#27 of 182
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.0
above Tennessee avg (6.4)
Median household income
$57k
88% of Tennessee median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in Cookeville, Tennessee
Cookeville's public school system spans 13 ranked schools and scores consistently well across the board. The city posts a 7.9 average rating out of 10, and 85% of ranked schools — 11 of 13 — score at least 7. That consistency is the headline: parents here aren't choosing between a handful of strong schools and a long tail of underperformers. The floor is high.
Prescott South Middle School leads the city at 9.4 out of 10, the top score among all 13 ranked schools. The elementary tier is equally competitive: Park View Elementary scores 8.9, Prescott South Elementary 8.8, and both Dodson Branch Elementary and Northeast Elementary land at 8.7. Four elementary schools at 8.7 or above is a strong showing at the K-5 level. The top four elementary options are clustered tightly, with just 0.2 points separating the second through fifth spots on the city rankings — parents choosing between them are dealing with marginal differences.
The 9.4 at Prescott South Middle stands out at the grade level where many cities show their sharpest performance drops. Middle school scores often lag behind a city's elementary numbers, but Prescott South Middle runs against that trend. The 7.9 city average across all 13 schools further confirms the depth here — schools outside the top five are still performing well above a marginal rating.
With 11 of 13 ranked schools scoring 7 or above, address matters less here than in many cities. Most residential zones in Cookeville land families in a school at or above that mark. Parents who can choose between attendance zones should target Prescott South for the strongest trajectory, but the gap between the city's top school and its 7.9 average is narrow enough that most options here represent solid ground.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 277 students · Pre-K–8th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 545 students · Pre-K–4th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 522 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.6 |
| 4 | 432 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.5 |
| 5 | 453 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.5 |
| 6 | 422 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.5 |
| 7 | 317 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.9 |
| 8 | 310 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.4 |
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 730 students · 5th–8th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 766 students · 5th–8th | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | 745 students · 5th–8th | 7.2 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Algood Christian Elementary
Private
19 students · 1st–8th | — | ||
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,202 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
| 2 | 29 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 106 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 2 | 20 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Highland Rim Academy
Private
294 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Heavenly Host Lutheran School
Private
73 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.0 | ||
Schools in Cookeville
Cookeville, Tennessee · 18 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$56,987
Median Home Value
$250,600
Median Rent
$944/mo
Population
72,983
College Educated
31%
Homeownership
60%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Community Profile
Cookeville has a median household income of $56,987. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $250,600, with a median rent of $944/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.7%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Tennessee
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 2
- Other
- 4
Resources
School Districts (2)
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Tennessee
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Cookeville, Tennessee
How many schools are in Cookeville, Tennessee?
Cookeville has 18 schools, including 15 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Cookeville, Tennessee?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Cookeville is 7.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Cookeville, Tennessee?
The top-ranked school in Cookeville on MySchoolScout is Dodson Branch Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Cookeville, Tennessee?
The top-ranked elementary school in Cookeville on MySchoolScout is Dodson Branch Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Cookeville, Tennessee?
The top-ranked middle school in Cookeville on MySchoolScout is Algood Middle School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Cookeville, Tennessee?
The top-ranked high school in Cookeville on MySchoolScout is Cookeville High School with a composite score of 6.1/10.
How many school districts serve Cookeville, Tennessee?
Cookeville is served by 2 school districts: Jackson County, Putnam County.
What is the education level in Cookeville, Tennessee?
According to Census data, 31% of adults in Cookeville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Cookeville, Tennessee?
The median household income in Cookeville is approximately $56,987 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Cookeville, Tennessee?
Yes, Cookeville has 3 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Highland Rim Academy with a score of 5.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Cookeville, Tennessee?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Cookeville is 12.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Cookeville, Tennessee?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Tennessee Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.