Excellent
#45 of 1,786 schools in TN
Top 3% in state
Dodson Branch Elementary
Elementary School · Jackson County · Cookeville, TN
A Jackson County elementary school where students score 28 points above what's typical for similar communities.
16221 Dodson Branch HWY, Cookeville, TN 38501
- Math 73% vs TN 39% (2025)
- Reading 43% vs TN 41% (2025)
- 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Dodson Branch Elementary score 58% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).
2025 TCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TN average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 21 points since 2020, reaching 58% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 48% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from TN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Dodson Branch Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 16Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,971/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cookeville), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$50,923
Median home value
$245,100
Median rent
$856/mo
College educated
30.8%
Homeownership
49.4%
Poverty rate
20%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 38501; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 in Jackson County
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesboro ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | PK–3 | Not available | 331 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Jackson County
- Schools in district
- 4
- Rank in district
- #1 of 4
- District spending per student
- $11,716NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 23.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Dodson Branch Elementary is listed in Jackson County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Dodson Branch Elementary
Dodson Branch Elementary is a public elementary school in Cookeville, TN, part of Jackson County, serving approximately 277 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #45 of 1,786 schools in TN. State assessment records show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dodson Branch Elementary
What grades does Dodson Branch Elementary serve?
Dodson Branch Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Dodson Branch Elementary?
Dodson Branch Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 277 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dodson Branch Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Dodson Branch Elementary is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dodson Branch Elementary rank in TN?
Dodson Branch Elementary ranks #45 of 1,786 schools in TN.
What is Dodson Branch Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Dodson Branch Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Dodson Branch Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dodson Branch Elementary has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Dodson Branch Elementary a charter school?
No, Dodson Branch Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dodson Branch Elementary a Title I school?
No, Dodson Branch Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 277
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Jackson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.1%
- Phone
- (931) 268-0761
- Area population (ZIP 38501)
- 42,422
- Area average commute
- 21.4 min
- Area median age
- 31.5
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 TCAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 TCAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 TCAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 TCAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 38501; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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