7.1avg / 10

Putnam County School District

School District · Cookeville, Tennessee

Last updated: August 2026

Students: 11,762

Teachers (FTE): 815

Estimated Scores: 5%

Avg Rating

7.1

out of 10

Schools

11 elem, 4 mid, 4 high

Enrollment

11,762

Student-Teacher Ratio

14.4:1

Avg Rating

7.1

out of 10

Schools

11 elem, 4 mid, 4 high

Enrollment

11,762

Student-Teacher Ratio

14.4:1

District shortlistschools + peers

Evaluating Putnam County?

A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Putnam County as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.

Compare schools Test scores Compare Memphis-shelby County Schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Cookeville · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Monterey · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Algood · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

How this district compares

Tennessee rank

#41 of 134

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

+0.8

above Tennessee avg

Per-pupil spending

$10,619

$792 vs Tennessee median

District size

11,762 students

Much larger than Tennessee median

The short answer

Putnam County ranks #41 of 134 Tennessee districts by overall school rating. Putnam County's schools with real test data average 7.2/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Prescott South Elementary (9.0/10), Burks Elementary (9.0/10), and Algood Elementary (8.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Top-Rated Schools in Putnam County

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (19 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	Enrollment
1	Prescott South Elementary	9.0 / 10	Elementary	—	545
2	Burks Elementary	9.0 / 10	Elementary	—	530
3	Algood Elementary	8.8 / 10	Elementary	—	507
4	Capshaw Elementary	8.6 / 10	Elementary	—	522
5	Northeast Elementary	8.5 / 10	Elementary	—	453
6	Cane Creek Elementary	8.5 / 10	Elementary	—	432
7	Park View Elementary	8.5 / 10	Elementary	—	422
8	Cornerstone Elementary	8.5 / 10	Elementary	—	367
9	Prescott South Middle School	7.9 / 10	Middle	—	766
10	Algood Middle School	7.9 / 10	Middle	—	730

See all 22 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Putnam County

Putnam County is a Cookeville, Tennessee school district serving 22 schools.The district educates 11,762 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1. District-level spending was $10,619 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 7.1/10, Putnam County is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.

The highest-rated school in the district is Burks Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.

In standardized testing, Putnam County students show an average math proficiency of 43.5% and ELA proficiency of 42.3%.

The district includes 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools.

District Map

Schools in Putnam County, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency43.5%

School

State

Not reported

ELA Proficiency42.3%

School

State

Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Putnam County with test data.

District Details

State: Tennessee
City: Cookeville
Total Enrollment: 11,762
Teachers (FTE): 815
District spending per student: $10,619NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate: 18.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory year: 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Putnam County?

Putnam County has 22 schools in total — 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Putnam County?

The average composite rating for Putnam County is 7.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the district spending per student in Putnam County?

Putnam County's district-level spending was $10,619 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Putnam County?

The average student-teacher ratio in Putnam County is 14.4:1.

What is the top-rated school in Putnam County?

Burks Elementary is the highest-rated school in Putnam County with a composite score of 9.0/10.

What are the test scores in Putnam County?

Across schools in Putnam County with test data, the average math proficiency is 43.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 42.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Putnam County compare to other districts in Tennessee?

Putnam County has an average school rating of 7.1/10 across 22 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Tennessee by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating: 7.1/10
Math Proficiency: 43.5%
ELA Proficiency: 42.3%

Resources

🔍Search for District Website 📄Official NCES Data 🏫GreatSchools Profile 📍View on Google Maps

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 rate

Other School Districts in TN

Compare Putnam County with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in TN →

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.