Total enrollment
11,776
+167 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Putnam County
Tennessee · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Putnam County number 22 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 535 students per school. By grade band, the county runs 12 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Putnam County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
22
+1 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Putnam County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Tennessee | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 11,776 | #19 of 90 | #720 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 22 | #21 of 90 | N/A |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 39.5% | #32 of 90 | #1,498 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Putnam County school rankings
Residents
82,558
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
1 districts
Enrollment
11,776
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$58,912
Below Tennessee avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
12
4,783 students
Middle
4
3,106 students
High
4
3,688 students
Combined / other
2
199 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Putnam County Public Schools
11,776 students · 1 district in Putnam County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Putnam County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
29.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.7%
civilian labor
Median age
36
20.9% under 18
Test scores in Putnam County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 18 schools ranked. Tennessee state average: 40.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Capshaw Elementary· 75.7%
- Algood Elementary· 64.5%
- Prescott South Elementary· 63.9%
- Northeast Elementary· 51.7%
- Cookeville High School· 51.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Upperman Middle School· 28.3%
- Monterey High School· 31.1%
- Jere Whitson Elementary· 32.1%
- Sycamore Elementary· 33.6%
- Putnam County VITAL· 34.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookeville High School | Cookeville | High | 09-12 | 2,241 | · |
| Upperman High School | Baxter | High | 09-12 | 899 | · |
| Upperman Middle School | Baxter | Middle | 05-08 | 851 | · |
| Prescott South Middle School | Cookeville | Middle | 05-08 | 813 | · |
| Avery Trace Middle School | Cookeville | Middle | 05-08 | 724 | · |
| Algood Middle School | Cookeville | Middle | 05-08 | 718 | · |
| Prescott South Elementary | Cookeville | Elementary | PK-04 | 535 | · |
| Monterey High School | Monterey | High | 07-12 | 526 | · |
| Burks Elementary | Monterey | Elementary | PK-06 | 515 | · |
| Capshaw Elementary | Cookeville | Elementary | PK-04 | 515 | · |
| Algood Elementary | Algood | Elementary | PK-04 | 495 | · |
| Northeast Elementary | Cookeville | Elementary | PK-04 | 459 | · |
| Cane Creek Elementary | Cookeville | Elementary | PK-04 | 447 | · |
| Park View School | Cookeville | Elementary | PK-04 | 416 | · |
| Cornerstone Elementary | Baxter | Elementary | 02-04 | 378 | · |
| Jere Whitson Elementary | Cookeville | Elementary | PK-04 | 339 | · |
| Sycamore Elementary | Cookeville | Elementary | PK-04 | 337 | · |
| Baxter Primary | Baxter | Elementary | PK-01 | 327 | · |
| Putnam County VITAL | Cookeville | Combined | PK-12 | 123 | · |
| White Plains Academy | Algood | Combined | KG-12 | 76 | · |
| Putnam Co Adult High School | Cookeville | High | 09-12 | 22 | · |
| T T U Child Development Lab | Cookeville | Elementary | PK-PK | 20 | · |
Cities in Putnam County
About Putnam County
Putnam County is a moderately sized Tennessee county of about 82,558 residents, home to 22 public schools and roughly 11,776 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $58,912, about 30% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 13% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Putnam County is built around 12 elementary schools (4,783 students), 4 middle schools (3,106), 4 high schools (3,688), and 2 combined or other schools.
Putnam County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 11,776 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Putnam County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 11,609 students to 11,776. The school count climbed from 21 to 22 across the same 4-year window.
On allk12, the community for Putnam County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data