Best Public Schools in Cookeville, TN

The city of Cookeville, Tennessee is home to 17 schools, including 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. These schools serve a diverse student population and generally outperform the state and county averages on standardized tests.

Among the standout schools in Cookeville are Cookeville High School, ranked 60th out of 374 Tennessee high schools, and Prescott South Middle School, ranked 120th out of 580 Tennessee middle schools. These schools boast exceptional test scores, with Cookeville High School's 65.2% proficiency rate in Biology I and 64.9% in English II significantly exceeding the Putnam County and Tennessee state averages. Other top-performing schools include Algood Middle School and Capshaw Elementary, which rank among the best in the state.

While the elementary and middle schools in Cookeville generally excel, the data reveals disparities in performance between these institutions and the alternative schools, such as Putnam County VITAL and White Plains Academy, which have significantly lower proficiency rates. Additionally, the data does not show a clear correlation between per-student spending and academic performance, suggesting that factors beyond just funding, such as teaching quality and school leadership, play a crucial role in student outcomes.