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Dodson Branch Elementary

Q: Is Dodson Branch Elementary a good school?

Dodson Branch Elementary ranks 247 th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

247^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,009 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Dodson Branch Elementary is a public elementary school located in Cookeville, Tennessee, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 277 students. The school is part of the Jackson County School District, which is ranked 48 out of 139 districts in Tennessee and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dodson Branch Elementary consistently outperforms the Jackson County and Tennessee state averages in proficiency rates across various subjects and grade levels, including mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Dodson Branch Elementary had a 61.9% proficiency rate in mathematics for all grades, compared to 40.2% for Jackson County and 42.2% for the state. The school's performance is particularly strong in mathematics, with several grade levels (6th, 7th, and 8th) achieving proficiency rates above 60%. Dodson Branch Elementary also excels in science, with an overall proficiency rate of 61.3% in 2024-2025, compared to 49.6% for Jackson County and 46.1% for the state.

While Dodson Branch Elementary's academic performance is generally stronger than the nearby schools in the Putnam County School District, such as Capshaw Elementary, Algood Elementary, Cane Creek Elementary, and Northeast Elementary, the school has seen an increase in chronic absenteeism rates over the past few years, rising from 7.1% in 2021-2022 to 18.9% in 2023-2024. This trend is concerning and may warrant further investigation and targeted interventions to address the underlying causes of student absenteeism.

250

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,779

Per pupil spending ?

80.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

16221 Dodson Branch HWY
Cookeville, TN 38501

(931) 268-0761

District: Jackson County

Students who attend Dodson Branch Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Jackson County Middle School
High:	Jackson County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.2%

Hispanic:

2.0%

Two or more races:

2.0%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Dodson Branch Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 47th percentile in 2014 → 76th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (56% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Tennessee elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 29 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg44%

Tennessee avg43%

Elementary school

247^th of 1,009

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▲ up 22 pts since 2015

From top 47% (2015) to top 24% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

78^th of 583

Tennessee public middle schools ?

Top 13%▲ up 22 pts since 2015

From top 36% (2015) to top 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Elementary Schools in the Jackson County

48^th of 139Jackson County among Tennessee districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	69.2	247 of 1009	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	65.4	276 of 1018	72.9%	★★★★☆
2023	48.9	488 of 1020	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.5	312 of 1000	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.3	353 of 983	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.8	383 of 985	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.5	529 of 997	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	22.1	566 of 646	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	55.9	398 of 855	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.0	452 of 853	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	43.6	620 of 846	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	10.8	780 of 820	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	81.2	130 of 818	84.1%	★★★★☆
2010	58.6	343 of 809	57.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	84.8	110 of 986	88.8%	★★★★☆
2024	74.9	189 of 990	80.9%	★★★★☆
2023	47.5	497 of 989	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.1	301 of 975	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.7	318 of 945	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.1	275 of 926	70.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2024	78.7	88 of 853	89.7%	★★★★☆
2023	47.3	429 of 865	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.1	164 of 858	80.9%	★★★★☆
2021	66.8	158 of 823	80.8%	★★★★☆
2019	46.3	425 of 821	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.6	330 of 877	62.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	54.6	402 of 984	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.7	272 of 991	72.6%	★★★★☆
2023	48.4	470 of 987	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.3	389 of 980	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.7	397 of 941	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.7	541 of 916	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	67.4	113 of 618	81.7%	★★★★☆
2024	74.3	84 of 582	85.6%	★★★★☆
2023	58.9	128 of 528	75.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	58.9	287 of 840	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.4	303 of 847	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.9	563 of 852	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.5	385 of 844	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.0	374 of 844	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.9	463 of 812	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.9	621 of 841	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	81.2	78 of 583	86.6%	★★★★☆
2024	83.5	69 of 587	88.2%	★★★★☆
2023	79.7	83 of 594	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	74.8	96 of 569	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	69.1	111 of 576	80.7%	★★★★☆
2019	57.6	193 of 574	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.5	116 of 563	79.4%	★★★★☆
2017	39.8	256 of 362	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	64.3	176 of 492	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.1	267 of 485	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	56.2	246 of 475	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	32.5	355 of 466	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	58.5	200 of 462	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	49.2	219 of 435	49.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	75.9	93 of 546	83.0%	★★★★☆
2024	75.3	101 of 554	81.8%	★★★★☆
2023	79.8	75 of 560	86.6%	★★★★☆
2022	80.6	63 of 552	88.6%	★★★★☆
2021	76.8	76 of 538	85.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.8	122 of 529	76.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	85.6	23 of 490	95.3%	★★★★★
2024	95.8	6 of 510	98.8%	★★★★★
2022	86.0	20 of 495	96.0%	★★★★★
2021	76.9	43 of 483	91.1%	★★★★★
2019	47.4	235 of 490	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	81.4	25 of 481	94.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	88.8	40 of 550	92.7%	★★★★★
2024	86.4	49 of 560	91.3%	★★★★★
2023	75.8	92 of 557	83.5%	★★★★☆
2022	59.1	188 of 540	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.9	281 of 529	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.5	154 of 523	70.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	77.3	84 of 492	82.9%	★★★★☆
2024	76.5	89 of 504	82.3%	★★★★☆
2023	74.0	99 of 503	80.3%	★★★★☆
2022	68.1	116 of 500	76.8%	★★★★☆
2021	63.4	140 of 496	71.8%	★★★★☆
2019	53.0	187 of 484	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.9	139 of 481	71.1%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)90th percentile+17 vs school

Female (2025)89th percentile+13 vs school

Special Education (2025)82nd percentile+6 vs school

White (2025)66th percentile-10 vs school

Male (2025)59th percentile-16 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)95th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)93rd percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)83rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)83rd percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics62%+20 vs state

Science61%+15 vs state

Social Studies51%~ state avg

English Language Arts47%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dodson Branch Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				TNReady Mathematics (2025)							TNReady English Language Arts (2025)							TNReady Science (2025)							TNReady Social Studies (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 5th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 6th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 5th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 6th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science 5th Grade	TNReady Science 6th Grade	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 6th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dodson Branch Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	16221 Dodson Branch HWY	Cookeville	38501	Jackson County	Jackson County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 268-0761	277	20	14.2		259 (93.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.2%)	69.2	247^th of 1009 public elementary schools	75.5%		65.4	276^th of 1018 public elementary schools	72.9%	29	51.9	60.7	33.3	66.7	78.9	70.0	61.9	51.9	53.6	47.6	52.4	47.4	25.0	47.1	40.7	71.4	33.3	76.2	78.9	55.0	61.3	47.6	71.1	15.0	50.6	$13,779	$1,500	$11,059
Gainesboro Elementary	Public	PK, KG-3	611 Main ST	Gainesboro	38562	Jackson County	Jackson County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 268-9775	331	24	13.7		312 (94.3%)	4 (1.2%)	9 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	64.3	312^th of 1009 public elementary schools	69.1%		59.1	359^th of 1018 public elementary schools	64.7%	47	54.7						54.7	46.5						46.5	44.2						44.2					$12,948	$1,390	$10,536
Jere Whitson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	178 East Jere Whitson RD	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 526-6575	317	27	11.5		92 (29.0%)	10 (3.2%)	208 (65.6%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	35.5	671^st of 1009 public elementary schools	33.5%		24	799^th of 1018 public elementary schools	21.5%	128	49.1	39.2					44.3	36.4	27.5					32.1	32.7	29.4					31.1					$14,550	$1,537	$11,687
Hilham Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	2305 Hilham HWY	Hilham	38568	Overton County	Overton County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 823-6816	296	24	12.5		283 (95.6%)	3 (1.0%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)	44.1	548^th of 1009 public elementary schools	45.7%		48.2	498^th of 1018 public elementary schools	51.1%	50	33.3	33.3	48.4	44.4	44.8	23.5	37.5	30.3	40.0	45.2	33.3	34.5	17.6	33.2	30.3	50.0	41.9	40.7	48.3	17.6	37.5	40.7	58.6	35.3	44.4	$12,883	$1,078	$10,915
Sycamore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	452 Ellis AVE	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 526-9322	310	24	12.9		205 (66.1%)	17 (5.5%)	69 (22.3%)	5 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.2%)	37.4	636^th of 1009 public elementary schools	37.0%		39.9	616^th of 1018 public elementary schools	39.5%	20	40.6	41.3					40.9	34.8	31.9					33.6	37.7	34.8					36.5					$15,570	$1,784	$12,760
Rickman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	631 Rickman Monterey HWY	Rickman	38580	Overton County	Overton County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 498-2825	712	44	16.3		692 (97.2%)	3 (0.4%)	11 (1.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	64.4	310^th of 1009 public elementary schools	69.3%		65.7	273^rd of 1018 public elementary schools	73.2%	37	48.6	45.7	54.7	39.7	47.7	55.2	48.6	39.7	58.6	50.0	38.2	39.5	39.7	44.4	44.6	68.6	61.6	44.1	58.8	60.3	56.5	45.6	65.9	56.9	56.9	$10,608	$882	$9,394
Algood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	2525 Old Walton RD	Cookeville	38506	Putnam County	Putnam County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 303-0362	507	38	13.2		435 (85.8%)	15 (3.0%)	45 (8.9%)	10 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	82.3	140^th of 1009 public elementary schools	86.1%		75.5	189^th of 1018 public elementary schools	81.4%	49	65.7	66.7					66.1	64.8	64.2					64.5	54.8	54.3					54.6					$14,165	$745	$12,499
Cane Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1500 West Jackson ST	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 520-1173	432	32	13.7		345 (79.9%)	9 (2.1%)	70 (16.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	57.3	390^th of 1009 public elementary schools	61.3%		43.1	572^nd of 1018 public elementary schools	43.8%	182	54.7	56.7					55.6	42.7	48.3					45.2	37.3	45.0					40.7					$14,481	$1,424	$11,767
Northeast Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	575 N Old Kentucky RD	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 526-2978	453	31	14.7		327 (72.2%)	10 (2.2%)	103 (22.7%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	68.7	251^st of 1009 public elementary schools	75.1%		70.8	233^rd of 1018 public elementary schools	77.1%	18	58.0	61.8					59.7	38.8	67.2					51.7	44.4	55.9					49.7					$13,119	$831	$11,384
Capshaw Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	1 Cougar LN	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County	No	No	No	No	(931) 526-2414	522	34	15.5		440 (84.3%)	8 (1.5%)	43 (8.2%)	24 (4.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	96.3	37^th of 1009 public elementary schools	96.3%		94.9	53^rd of 1018 public elementary schools	94.8%	16	82.7	80.2					81.5	69.7	82.6					75.7	75.8	76.7					76.2					$13,284	$390	$12,098

Frequently Asked Questions about Dodson Branch Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Dodson Branch Elementary?

Students at Dodson Branch Elementary are 95% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Dodson Branch Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 250 students attended Dodson Branch Elementary.

What district is Dodson Branch Elementary in?

Jackson County

What schools do graduates of Dodson Branch Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dodson Branch Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Jackson County Middle School
High : Jackson County High School

Is Dodson Branch Elementary a good school?

Dodson Branch Elementary ranks 247^th of 1009 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Dodson Branch Elementary!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.