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Sycamore Elementary School

Q: Is Sycamore Elementary School a good school?

Sycamore Elementary School ranks 359 th of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

359^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,019 Tennessee Elementary Schools

Better than 65% of Tennessee elementary schools

Summary

Sycamore Elementary School is a PK–4 school in Cookeville, Tennessee, serving 337 students in Putnam County Schools. After years of hovering near the bottom-third of Tennessee elementary schools, Sycamore jumped to the 65th percentile in 2025–2026, earning a 3-star rating and ranking 359th out of 1,019 schools statewide. The school now exceeds state averages in all three tested subjects — math, ELA, and science — and outperforms nearby Jere Whitson Elementary School across every subject. Its ELA proficiency (51.7%) is well above both the district (44.3%) and state (40.6%) averages, though math (53.3%) remains slightly below the district mark.

The most encouraging story at Sycamore is its work with economically disadvantaged students. The school ranked 45th out of 823 schools statewide for low-SES students — the 95th percentile and a 5-star result — a dramatic climb from the 63rd percentile just one year earlier. Special education students have also seen remarkable gains, moving from the very bottom of the state (2nd percentile in 2023–2024) to above the median (53rd percentile) by 2025–2026. Sycamore also outperforms its closest neighbor, Cane Creek Elementary School, in ELA by a wide margin (51.7% vs. 39.3%), suggesting its academic systems are producing strong results despite broader challenges.

Sycamore faces real challenges, however. Chronic absenteeism reached 19.8% in 2024–2025 — the highest among all nearby schools and up sharply from 11.4% two years earlier. The school also spends more per student ($15,570) than higher-performing peers like Capshaw Elementary School ($13,284) and Prescott South Elementary School ($12,811). Fourth-grade achievement lags the district by 13 percentage points in both math and science, pointing to a possible transition challenge in the upper grades. English Language Learner results are another red flag, with the school ranking in the 10th percentile for that subgroup. If Sycamore can improve attendance and close the 4th-grade gap, its recent momentum could carry it further.

337

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,570

Per pupil spending ?

64.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

452 Ellis Avenue
Cookeville, TN 38501

(931) 526-9322

District: Putnam County Schools

Students who attend Sycamore Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Avery Trace Middle School
High:	Cookeville High School
	Putnam County Adult High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.1%

Hispanic:

24.0%

African American:

6.5%

See top rated Tennessee elementary schools

Compare Sycamore Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 38th percentile in 2015 → 65th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Tennessee average (50% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 27 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Tennessee median (65th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg50%

Tennessee avg43%

359^th of 1,019

Tennessee public elementary schools ?

Top 35%▲ up 14 pts since 2017

From top 49% (2017) to top 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 10Elementary Schools in the Putnam County Schools

56^th of 141Putnam County Schools 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	60.9	359 of 1019	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.4	636 of 1009	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.9	616 of 1018	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.7	604 of 1020	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.3	662 of 1000	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.9	536 of 983	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.3	588 of 985	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.2	398 of 997	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	48.6	317 of 646	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	46.6	526 of 855	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	37.9	598 of 853	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	64.9	322 of 846	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	75.7	190 of 820	76.8%	★★★★☆
2011	73.9	199 of 818	75.7%	★★★★☆
2010	55.7	378 of 809	53.3%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2018	34.1	280 of 450	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	25.1	189 of 211	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	40.3	592 of 986	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.8	684 of 990	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.9	598 of 989	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.0	567 of 975	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.7	489 of 945	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.5	642 of 926	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	59.6	153 of 458	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.2	172 of 424	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.9	208 of 415	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.4	225 of 387	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	20.3	338 of 363	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	86.8	45 of 823	94.5%	★★★★★
2025	56.1	308 of 843	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.3	469 of 853	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.1	297 of 865	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.5	662 of 858	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.6	561 of 823	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.2	475 of 821	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.1	216 of 877	75.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	34.8	663 of 984	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.2	511 of 991	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.8	579 of 987	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.1	711 of 980	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.3	567 of 941	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.4	442 of 916	51.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	43.5	302 of 641	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.3	259 of 618	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	15.9	568 of 582	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	40.9	279 of 528	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.1	281 of 447	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	15.7	365 of 369	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	46.8	433 of 849	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	26.4	662 of 840	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.1	576 of 847	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.0	609 of 852	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.9	659 of 844	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.5	500 of 844	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.1	504 of 812	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.9	411 of 841	51.1%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)95th percentile+30 vs school

Hispanic (2026)67th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)53rd percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)49th percentile-16 vs school

Female (2025)40th percentile+3 vs school

African American (2018)38th percentile-22 vs school

Male (2025)33rd percentile-4 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)10th percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics53%+10 vs state

English Language Arts52%+11 vs state

Science46%~ state avg

3.7

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a student
Sunday, January 1, 2023

When I had went there as a child, I suffered from PTSD, then misdiagnosed as ADHD. The principle tried to force me into a spED class but I didn't meet the qualifications, but teachers still constantly harassed me if I was taking my medication- something which was not only invasive but troubling, as my mother made sure I always took my meds. Kids who were actually spED were constantly bullied and teachers made little effort to stop this.
In short, if your child displays symptoms of mental disorder, this school isn't going to handle your kid very well. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, July 24, 2011

Best kept secret in Putnam County. Love the teachers! Love Mr Wheaton! Nice playground area thanks to the fundraising by PTO. Car line in the morning & afternoon is efficient and quick, not chaotic. Love the end of the year activities. Close Quote

Schools Near Sycamore Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)			TNReady English Language Arts (2026)			TNReady Science (2026)			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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	TNReady Mathematics 3rd Grade	TNReady Mathematics 4th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 3rd Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 4th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Science 3rd Grade	TNReady Science 4th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sycamore Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	452 Ellis Avenue	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	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%)	60.9	359^th of 1019 public elementary schools	64.8%		37.4	636^th of 1009 public elementary schools	37.0%	277	51.8	54.7	53.3	53.6	50.0	51.7	46.4	45.3	45.8	$15,570	$1,784	$12,760
Cane Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1500 West Jackson Street	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	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%)	54	450^th of 1019 public elementary schools	55.8%		57.3	390^th of 1009 public elementary schools	61.3%	60	50.7	64.8	57.9	37.7	40.8	39.3	33.3	56.3	45.0	$14,481	$1,424	$11,767
Jere Whitson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	178 East Jere Whitson Road	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	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%)	38.4	651^st of 1019 public elementary schools	36.1%		35.5	671^st of 1009 public elementary schools	33.5%	20	36.4	64.4	50.9	29.1	32.2	30.7	29.1	44.1	36.8	$14,550	$1,537	$11,687
Capshaw Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1 Cougar Lane	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	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%)	93.5	60^th of 1019 public elementary schools	94.1%		96.3	37^th of 1009 public elementary schools	96.3%	23	70.1	88.5	79.3	68.0	78.1	73.1	63.9	77.1	70.5	$13,284	$390	$12,098
Park View School	Public	PK, KG-4	2000 Lee Seminary Road	Cookeville	38506	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 526-2516	422	29	14.5		317 (75.1%)	18 (4.3%)	79 (18.7%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	62.5	340^th of 1019 public elementary schools	66.6%		57	396^th of 1009 public elementary schools	60.8%	56	67.7	44.8	56.1	49.2	47.8	48.5	50.8	50.7	50.8	$15,140	$1,144	$12,933
Northeast Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	575 N Old Kentucky Road	Cookeville	38501	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	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%)	70.2	250^th of 1019 public elementary schools	75.5%		68.7	251^st of 1009 public elementary schools	75.1%	1	55.6	70.6	63.7	41.7	61.2	52.2	40.3	63.5	52.9	$13,119	$831	$11,384
Algood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	2525 Old Walton Road	Cookeville	38506	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	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%)	82.9	135^th of 1019 public elementary schools	86.8%		82.3	140^th of 1009 public elementary schools	86.1%	5	77.9	72.3	75.0	50.5	71.3	61.2	52.6	65.3	59.2	$14,165	$745	$12,499
Prescott South Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	115 W. Cemetery Road	Cookeville	38506	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 526-2275	545	35	15.5		477 (87.5%)	5 (0.9%)	43 (7.9%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.9%)	84.4	123^rd of 1019 public elementary schools	87.9%		86.2	114^th of 1009 public elementary schools	88.7%	9	63.1	74.3	68.4	60.4	66.0	63.0	56.8	64.4	60.4	$12,811	$897	$11,192
Cornerstone Elementary School	Public	2-4	371 First Avenue South	Baxter	38544	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 858-9190	367	26	14.3		339 (92.4%)	5 (1.4%)	14 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (1.9%)	77.1	179^th of 1019 public elementary schools	82.4%		57.2	392^nd of 1009 public elementary schools	61.1%	213	65.7	70.0	67.6	56.7	53.6	55.3	56.4	53.6	55.1	$13,480	$998	$11,709
Baxter Primary School	Public	PK, KG-1	125 Elmore Town Road	Baxter	38544	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(931) 858-3110	352	22	16.3		317 (90.1%)	11 (3.1%)	15 (4.3%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.4%)								(n/a)										$16,234	$756	$14,058

Frequently Asked Questions about Sycamore Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Sycamore Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Sycamore Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Avery Trace Middle School
High : Cookeville High School
High : Putnam County Adult High School

What district is Sycamore Elementary School in?

Putnam County Schools

How many students attend Sycamore Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 337 students attended Sycamore Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Sycamore Elementary School?

Students at Sycamore Elementary School are 64% White, 24% Hispanic, 7% African American, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Is Sycamore Elementary School a good school?

Sycamore Elementary School ranks 359^th of 1019 Tennessee elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Sycamore Elementary School!

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresNewAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

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.