Summary:
Zip code 38501 in Cookeville, Tennessee is home to 8 public schools serving 5,312 students, including 6 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. Seven of the schools belong to Putnam County Schools, while Dodson Branch Elementary falls under Jackson County Schools. The schools range in size from Dodson Branch's 250 students to Cookeville High School's 2,241 students.
Capshaw Elementary is the clear academic leader, ranking 60th out of 1,019 elementary schools in Tennessee (top 6%). Its math proficiency rate of 79.3% far exceeds the state average of 43.0%, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 6.8% is the lowest in the area. Cookeville High School posts a 95.2% graduation rate and a 2.3% dropout rate—about one-third the state average—but 26.4% of its students are chronically absent. Sycamore Elementary is the area's most improved school, jumping from the 37th to 65th percentile in a single year with double-digit gains in every subject. Dodson Branch Elementary, meanwhile, dropped from the 76th to 39th percentile despite 8th graders scoring above 80% proficient in math.
Chronic absenteeism rises at higher grade levels, affecting 14–20% of students at most schools and exceeding the state average of 18.3% at several. Spending per student varies widely, from $11,130 at Cookeville High School to $15,570 at Sycamore Elementary, but higher spending does not consistently produce better outcomes. Avery Trace Middle School shows a dual-speed profile: overall math and ELA proficiency trail state averages, yet its accelerated students score above 90% proficient in Algebra I and English I. Putnam County Schools ranks 56th out of 141 Tennessee districts, while Jackson County Schools ranks 73rd. For parents, the picture is mixed: Capshaw offers elite academics, Cookeville High graduates students well despite attendance concerns, and several schools show either promising momentum or cause for careful monitoring.
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