Cheatham County

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Ashland City, Tennessee - 14 schools

An equity score of 20/100 ranks Cheatham County #132 of 140 districts in Tennessee (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,170 per pupil, Cheatham County ranks #137 of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending (Tennessee districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

5,833
Total Enrollment
14
Schools
$9,170
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Cheatham County operates 14 public schools serving 5,833 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 4 elementary, 4 high schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Cheatham County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,170 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 15 of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending. See how Tennessee compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 27.8% local, 56.7% state, and 15.5% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 20/100, ranked #132 of 140 in Tennessee against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 299.2:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 19.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 84.1% White, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Cheatham Co Central, with a diversity index of 41.0/100.

Its largest campus is Sycamore Middle School, enrolling 672 students (12% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Riverside Academy, at 17 students, a 40x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Cheatham County school enrollment varies 40× across entities

Cheatham County school enrollment ranges from 17 students (lowest) to 672 students (highest), a spread of 655 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity, the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Cheatham County student-counselor ratio is 299:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Cheatham County is typically wider than the Cheatham County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Cheatham County chronic absenteeism rate is 19.7% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Cheatham County is typically wider than the Cheatham County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.5%
Federal
56.7%
State
27.8%
Local

Funding Equity

20
Equity Score
132 / 140
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 14 schools in Cheatham County.

White 84.1%
Hispanic or Latino 9.8%
African American 1.9%
Multiracial 3.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 27.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Cheatham County's schools, below the Tennessee average of 38.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Cheatham Co Central 41.0
  2. 2 Ashland City Elementary 39.2
  3. 3 Cheatham Middle School 38.7
  4. 4 Pegram Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School 33.6
  5. 5 East Cheatham Elementary 29.0

Programs & Resources

299.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
19.7%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Cheatham County

School Enrollment
Sycamore Middle School
672
Sycamore High School
635
Pleasant View Elementary
566
Cheatham Co Central
514
Cheatham Middle School
502
Harpeth Middle School
432
Harpeth High School
425
Ashland City Elementary
424
East Cheatham Elementary
369
Kingston Springs Elementary
316
West Cheatham Elementary
308
Pegram Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School
201
Cheatham County Virtual School
70
Riverside Academy
17

How Cheatham County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Tennessee districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Cleveland Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Union County Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Achievement School District Similar size No spending data No revenue-mix data
Maryville Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Germantown Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Cheatham County's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Tennessee

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools
109,797 students · 222 schools · $13,650/pupil
Compare vs Cheatham County →
Davidson County
80,651 students · 161 schools · $15,421/pupil
Compare vs Cheatham County →
Knox County
60,609 students · 93 schools · $10,538/pupil
Compare vs Cheatham County →
Rutherford County
50,707 students · 51 schools · $10,141/pupil
Compare vs Cheatham County →
Hamilton County
45,902 students · 81 schools · $12,002/pupil
Compare vs Cheatham County →

Compare Cheatham County

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Memphis-Shelby County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Cheatham County?

Cheatham County has 14 schools, including 4 elementary, 4 high, 6 combined. Total enrollment is 5,833 students.

How much does Cheatham County spend per student?

Cheatham County spends $9,170 per student. The district has an equity score of 20/100, ranking #132 in Tennessee.

What is the demographic composition of Cheatham County?

Cheatham County students are 84.1% White, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 14 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Cheatham County?

Cheatham County has an equity score of 20/100, ranking #132 out of 140 districts in Tennessee.