High Schools in Putnam County Schools

Putnam County Schools, located in Putnam County, Tennessee, operates four high schools serving approximately 3,688 students: Cookeville High School, Upperman High School, Monterey High School, and Putnam County Adult High School. The district ranks 56th out of 141 Tennessee districts in the 60th percentile and holds a 3-star rating. Cookeville High School is the largest with 2,241 students, while Monterey High School serves grades 7 through 12 and Putnam County Adult High School serves a small adult-learner population of 22 students. Free or reduced-price lunch data and student-teacher ratios are not reported for these schools.

Cookeville High School stands out as the academic leader, ranking 113th out of 400 schools in 2025-2026 with a 4-star rating and the highest graduation rate at 95.2 percent. It outperforms the district in five of six core subjects. Upperman High School is the district's most improved school, jumping from a 2-star to a 3-star rating and improving in every core subject, with large gains in Geometry and Algebra I. Monterey High School has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 12.5 percent but the lowest graduation rate at 84.8 percent, well below the state average of 90.5 percent. Putnam County Adult High School, with just 22 students, has the lowest chronic absenteeism at 10 percent but lacks traditional graduation and test data.

Several findings stand out. Cookeville High School has a significant attendance challenge despite academic success, with 26.4 percent of students chronically absent. Monterey High School spends the most per student at $13,505, roughly 21 percent more than Cookeville, yet its state ranking has declined for three straight years. English I is a district-wide weakness, as all three comprehensive high schools fall below the state proficiency average of 37.3 percent. Upperman High School has the lowest dropout rate at 1.2 percent. With Cookeville High School enrolling 61 percent of all non-adult high school students, its size likely offers broader course offerings and resources.