Union County

Public school district · Union County · Tennessee · NCES district ID 4704290

Union County spent $9,219 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 99% of the other Tennessee districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $11,310). Its 11 schools enrolled 5,514 students in 2024-25; 73.0% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $10,018 per student, up 8.7% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 80-84% (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 Union County in enrollment (5,671 to 6,344 students) and Union County itself.

Current spending per student, Tennessee districts closest in size to Union County, FY23Achievement $13,612; Anderson County $12,945; Hawkins County $12,084; Maryville City Schools $12,075; Roane County $12,003; Cleveland City Schools $11,690; Germantown Municipal District $11,689; Greene County $10,693; 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$12,075Roane County$12,003Cleveland City Schools$11,690Germantown Municipal District$11,689Greene County$10,693Cheatham County$10,231Union County$9,219State median, 1,000+ students $11,310
Current spending per student, Tennessee districts closest in size to Union County, FY23Achievement $13,612; Anderson County $12,945; Hawkins County $12,084; Maryville City Schools $12,075; Roane County $12,003; Cleveland City Schools $11,690; Germantown Municipal District $11,689; Greene County $10,693; 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$12,075Roane County$12,003Cleveland City Schools$11,690Germantown Municipal District$11,689Greene County$10,693Cheatham County$10,231Union County$9,219State median, 1,000+ students $11,310
Current spending per student, Tennessee districts closest in size to Union County, FY23Achievement $13,612; Anderson County $12,945; Hawkins County $12,084; Maryville City Schools $12,075; Roane County $12,003; Cleveland City Schools $11,690; Germantown Municipal District $11,689; Greene County $10,693; 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$12,075Roane County$12,003Cleveland City Schools$11,690Germantown Municipal District$11,689Greene County$10,693Cheatham County$10,231Union County$9,219State median, 1,000+ students $11,310
Current spending per student, Tennessee districts closest in size to Union County, FY23Achievement $13,612; Anderson County $12,945; Hawkins County $12,084; Maryville City Schools $12,075; Roane County $12,003; Cleveland City Schools $11,690; Germantown Municipal District $11,689; Greene County $10,693; 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$12,075Roane County$12,003Cleveland City Schools$11,690Germantown Municipal District$11,689Greene County$10,693Cheatham County$10,231Union County$9,219State median, 1,000+ students $11,310

Where the money came from

$61,338,000 in revenue: 73.0% state, 12.8% local and 14.2% federal. Total spending including $739,000 of capital outlay was $55,784,000, or $9,393 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Union County revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $44,757,000; Local $7,860,000; Federal $8,721,000; total $61,338,000.
  • State$44,757,000 73%
  • Local$7,860,000 13%
  • Federal$8,721,000 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

5,939 students in 2022-23, 5,704 students in 2023-24, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Union County enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,939, 2023-24: 5,70402k4k6k2022-235,9392023-245,704
Union County enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,939, 2023-24: 5,70402k4k6k2022-235,9392023-245,704
Union County enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,939, 2023-24: 5,70402k4k6k2022-235,9392023-245,704
Union County enrollment by school year2022-23: 5,939, 2023-24: 5,70402k4k6k2022-235,9392023-245,704

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-235,939376.715.8
2023-245,704335.217.0

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

$12,064,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $2,031 per student

Union County booked $12,064,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 377 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 $32,029 of salary spending per teacher. That is less than any other Tennessee district 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$9,915,00082.2%
Special education$1,267,00010.5%
Vocational$882,0007.3%

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

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $2,198 in 2018-19, $2,082 in 2019-20, $2,057 in 2020-21, $1,990 in 2021-22, $2,031 in 2022-23.

Union County teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $2,198, 2019-20: $2,082, 2020-21: $2,057, 2021-22: $1,990, 2022-23: $2,03101k2k3k2018-19$2,1982019-20$2,0822020-21$2,0572021-22$1,9902022-23$2,031
Union County teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $2,198, 2019-20: $2,082, 2020-21: $2,057, 2021-22: $1,990, 2022-23: $2,03101k2k3k2018-19$2,1982019-20$2,0822020-21$2,0572021-22$1,9902022-23$2,031
Union County teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $2,198, 2019-20: $2,082, 2020-21: $2,057, 2021-22: $1,990, 2022-23: $2,03101k2k3k2018-19$2,1982019-20$2,0822020-21$2,0572021-22$1,9902022-23$2,031
Union County teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $2,198, 2019-20: $2,082, 2020-21: $2,057, 2021-22: $1,990, 2022-23: $2,03101k2k3k2018-19$2,1982019-20$2,0822020-21$2,0572021-22$1,9902022-23$2,031

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 Union County scored proficient or above: 21% in reading and 15% 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 arts21%35%3,309
Math15%35%3,311

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

80-84% of the 198 students in Union 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 rate80‑84%87.3%
Students in the class19871,510

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.

7 elementary schools, 3,218 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Tennessee Virtual Academy1,86716.4All free (CEP)Not reported
Maynardville Elementary36612.7All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Luttrell Elementary34112.8All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Paulette Elementary School34113.9All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Big Ridge Elementary16912.1All free (CEP)Eligible, no program
Sharps Chapel Elementary12712.5All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Elementary Middle Alternative75.0All 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.

2 middle schools, 1,460 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Tennessee Virtual Junior High School85626.5All free (CEP)Not reported
H Maynard Middle School60415.5All free (CEP)Schoolwide 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.

2 high schools, 836 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Union County High School80614.2All free (CEP)Schoolwide program
Union County Alternative Center305.0All 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.

Contact Union 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 Union County

  1. Tennessee districts by spending per studentUnion County ranks 123 of 124 Tennessee districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($9,219).#123 of 124
  2. Every school district in TennesseeUnion County is the number 38 by size of 148 Tennessee districts, with 5,939 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#38 of 148
  3. Achievement School DistrictThe next larger Tennessee district: 5,966 students in fall 2022, $13,612 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$13,612
  4. Cheatham CountyThe next smaller Tennessee district: 5,833 students in fall 2022, $10,231 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$10,231
  5. Compare Union County with Achievement School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Union County High School, its largest high school806 students in 2024-25, 14.2 per teacher.806
  7. Teacher salary spending across TennesseeUnion County spent $32,029 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $57,379); spending, not a salary.$32,029
  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 Union County

  1. How many schools and students are in Union County?
    11 schools were open in 2024-25 (7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high), enrolling 5,514 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Union County spend per student?
    $9,219 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 $10,018 per student, up 8.7% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Union County's money come from?
    $61,338,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 73.0% state, 12.8% local and 14.2% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Union County live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 701 of the 3,266 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 21.5%, 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 Union County spend on teacher salaries?
    $12,064,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $2,031 per student. Divided by the 377 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $32,029 per teacher, less than any other Tennessee district with a figure (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 Union County do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Union County scored proficient or above: 21% in reading and 15% 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 Union County?
    80-84% of the 198 students in Union 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 Union County's NCES district ID?
    4704290. 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