Cheatham County

Public school district · Cheatham County · Tennessee · NCES district ID 4700570

Cheatham County spent $10,231 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 89% of the other Tennessee districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $11,310). Its 14 schools enrolled 5,451 students in 2024-25; 54.2% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $11,180 per student, up 9.3% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 83% (Tennessee: 87.3%).

Spending per student among Tennessee districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Cheatham County in enrollment (5,406 to 6,317 students) and Cheatham County itself.

Current spending per student, Tennessee districts closest in size to Cheatham County, FY23Achievement $13,612; Anderson County $12,945; Hawkins County $12,084; Maryville City Schools $12,075; Cleveland City Schools $11,690; Germantown Municipal District $11,689; Greene County $10,693; Marshall County $10,312; Cheatham County $10,231; Union County $9,219; State median, 1,000+ students $11,310.8k10k12k14kAchievement$13,612Anderson County$12,945Hawkins County$12,084Maryville City Schools$12,075Cleveland City Schools$11,690Germantown Municipal District$11,689Greene County$10,693Marshall County$10,312Cheatham County$10,231Union County$9,219State median, 1,000+ students $11,310
Current spending per student, Tennessee districts closest in size to Cheatham County, FY23Achievement $13,612; Anderson County $12,945; Hawkins County $12,084; Maryville City Schools $12,075; Cleveland City Schools $11,690; Germantown Municipal District $11,689; Greene County $10,693; Marshall County $10,312; Cheatham County $10,231; Union County $9,219; State median, 1,000+ students $11,310.8k10k12k14kAchievement$13,612Anderson County$12,945Hawkins County$12,084Maryville City Schools$12,075Cleveland City Schools$11,690Germantown Municipal District$11,689Greene County$10,693Marshall County$10,312Cheatham County$10,231Union County$9,219State median, 1,000+ students $11,310
Current spending per student, Tennessee districts closest in size to Cheatham County, FY23Achievement $13,612; Anderson County $12,945; Hawkins County $12,084; Maryville City Schools $12,075; Cleveland City Schools $11,690; Germantown Municipal District $11,689; Greene County $10,693; Marshall County $10,312; Cheatham County $10,231; Union County $9,219; State median, 1,000+ students $11,310.8k10k12k14kAchievement$13,612Anderson County$12,945Hawkins County$12,084Maryville City Schools$12,075Cleveland City Schools$11,690Germantown Municipal District$11,689Greene County$10,693Marshall County$10,312Cheatham County$10,231Union County$9,219State median, 1,000+ students $11,310
Current spending per student, Tennessee districts closest in size to Cheatham County, FY23Achievement $13,612; Anderson County $12,945; Hawkins County $12,084; Maryville City Schools $12,075; Cleveland City Schools $11,690; Germantown Municipal District $11,689; Greene County $10,693; Marshall County $10,312; Cheatham County $10,231; Union County $9,219; State median, 1,000+ students $11,310.8k10k12k14kAchievement$13,612Anderson County$12,945Hawkins County$12,084Maryville City Schools$12,075Cleveland City Schools$11,690Germantown Municipal District$11,689Greene County$10,693Marshall County$10,312Cheatham County$10,231Union County$9,219State median, 1,000+ students $11,310

Where the money came from

$64,665,000 in revenue: 54.2% state, 31.5% local and 14.3% federal. Total spending including $6,067,000 of capital outlay was $67,186,000, or $11,518 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Cheatham County revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $35,058,000; Local $20,353,000; Federal $9,254,000; total $64,665,000.
  • State$35,058,000 54%
  • Local$20,353,000 31%
  • Federal$9,254,000 14%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 124 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2023-24

5,833 students in 2022-23, 5,629 students in 2023-24, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Cheatham County enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,833, 2023-24: 5,62902k4k6k2022-235,8332023-245,629
Cheatham County enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,833, 2023-24: 5,62902k4k6k2022-235,8332023-245,629
Cheatham County enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,833, 2023-24: 5,62902k4k6k2022-235,8332023-245,629
Cheatham County enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,833, 2023-24: 5,62902k4k6k2022-235,8332023-245,629

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-235,833364.516.0
2023-245,629347.016.2

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$21,923,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $3,758 per student

Cheatham County booked $21,923,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 365 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $60,145 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 69 in 100 Tennessee districts with a figure (state median $57,379, 141 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Tennessee teacher salary at $53,619 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$19,191,00087.5%
Special education$1,980,0009.0%
Vocational$752,0003.4%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,046 in 2018-19, $3,167 in 2019-20, $3,389 in 2020-21, $3,463 in 2021-22, $3,758 in 2022-23.

Cheatham County teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,046, 2019-20: $3,167, 2020-21: $3,389, 2021-22: $3,463, 2022-23: $3,75801k2k3k4k2018-19$3,0462019-20$3,1672020-21$3,3892021-22$3,4632022-23$3,758
Cheatham County teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,046, 2019-20: $3,167, 2020-21: $3,389, 2021-22: $3,463, 2022-23: $3,75801k2k3k4k2018-19$3,0462019-20$3,1672020-21$3,3892021-22$3,4632022-23$3,758
Cheatham County teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,046, 2019-20: $3,167, 2020-21: $3,389, 2021-22: $3,463, 2022-23: $3,75801k2k3k4k2018-19$3,0462019-20$3,1672020-21$3,3892021-22$3,4632022-23$3,758
Cheatham County teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,046, 2019-20: $3,167, 2020-21: $3,389, 2021-22: $3,463, 2022-23: $3,75801k2k3k4k2018-19$3,0462019-20$3,1672020-21$3,3892021-22$3,4632022-23$3,758

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Cheatham County scored proficient or above: 33% in reading and 35% in math, against 35% in reading and 35% in math across Tennessee. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Tennessee, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtTennesseeStudents tested
Reading and language arts33%35%2,469
Math35%35%2,464

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

83% of the 454 students in Cheatham County's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 87.3% across Tennessee. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtTennessee
Four-year graduation rate83%87.3%
Students in the class45471,510

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

6 elementary schools, 2,184 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Pleasant View Elementary56617.0not reportedEligible, no program
Ashland City Elementary42415.0not reportedSchoolwide program
East Cheatham Elementary36916.6not reportedSchoolwide program
Kingston Springs Elementary31613.9not reportedEligible, no program
West Cheatham Elementary30812.6not reportedSchoolwide program
Pegram Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School20113.3not reportedEligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 middle schools, 1,606 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Sycamore Middle School67216.2not reportedEligible, no program
Cheatham Middle School50216.0not reportedSchoolwide program
Harpeth Middle School43215.0not reportedEligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

4 high schools, 1,644 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Sycamore High School63518.2not reportedEligible, no program
Cheatham Co Central51417.4not reportedSchoolwide program
Harpeth High School42521.5not reportedNot Title I
Cheatham County Virtual School706.8All free (CEP)Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 other school, 17 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Riverside Academy174.7not reportedEligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Cheatham County

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Cheatham County

  1. Tennessee districts by spending per studentCheatham County ranks 110 of 124 Tennessee districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($10,231).#110 of 124
  2. Every school district in TennesseeCheatham County is the number 39 by size of 148 Tennessee districts, with 5,833 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#39 of 148
  3. Union CountyThe next larger Tennessee district: 5,939 students in fall 2022, $9,219 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$9,219
  4. Cleveland City SchoolsThe next smaller Tennessee district: 5,768 students in fall 2022, $11,690 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$11,690
  5. Compare Cheatham County with Union CountyEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Sycamore High School, its largest high school635 students in 2024-25, 18.2 per teacher.635
  7. Teacher salary spending across TennesseeCheatham County spent $60,145 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $57,379); spending, not a salary.$60,145
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Cheatham County

  1. How many schools and students are in Cheatham County?
    14 schools were open in 2024-25 (6 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 other), enrolling 5,451 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Cheatham County spend per student?
    $10,231 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Tennessee median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $11,310 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $11,180 per student, up 9.3% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Cheatham County's money come from?
    $64,665,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 54.2% state, 31.5% local and 14.3% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Cheatham County live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 660 of the 6,650 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 9.9%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Cheatham County spend on teacher salaries?
    $21,923,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $3,758 per student. Divided by the 365 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $60,145 per teacher, more than 69 in 100 Tennessee districts (state median $57,379). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Tennessee teacher salary at $53,619 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Cheatham County do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Cheatham County scored proficient or above: 33% in reading and 35% in math, against 35% in reading and 35% in math across Tennessee. Tennessee's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Cheatham County?
    83% of the 454 students in Cheatham County's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 87.3% across Tennessee. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Cheatham County's NCES district ID?
    4700570. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25