High Schools in Cheatham County Schools

Cheatham County Schools operates four high schools serving grades 9-12 in a mostly rural district southwest of Nashville: Sycamore High School, Cheatham County Central School, Harpeth High School, and Cheatham County Virtual School.

For parents comparing schools, Sycamore High School and Harpeth High School are the strongest traditional options. Sycamore has the best graduation rate (93.9%), the lowest dropout rate (2.5%), and the best current state ranking (58th percentile), while also spending the least per student ($10,302). Harpeth leads in academic proficiency across core subjects — with standout results in US History (74.6% proficient vs. 42.4% statewide) and Biology I (67.8% vs. 49.8% statewide) — and a 92.2% graduation rate. Cheatham County Central School trails both: its graduation rate is 83.1%, its dropout rate is 8.5%, and it posts the lowest proficiency among traditional schools in Algebra I, Algebra II, Biology I, and English I — despite spending more per student than Sycamore. The Cheatham County Virtual School is a serious concern, ranking in the 7th percentile with a 78.3% graduation rate, a 13.0% dropout rate, and very low proficiency in nearly every subject.

A few important takeaways stand out. All traditional high schools outperform the state in Biology I and US History, but struggle badly in Algebra I and English I — likely because stronger students take Geometry and Algebra II early, leaving test scores for those foundation classes reflecting a less-prepared subgroup. Sycamore’s high chronic absenteeism (21.3%) is surprising given its strong graduation outcomes. Meanwhile, both Harpeth and Sycamore have slipped from 4-star to 3-star ratings since 2023-24. For parents, the practical picture is that Harpeth offers the best academics, Sycamore offers the best graduation and cost efficiency, Central needs improvement, and the virtual school carries significant academic risks.