Dickson County

Dickson, Tennessee — 17 schools

8,129
Total Enrollment
17
Schools
$11,402
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Dickson County operates 17 public schools serving 8,129 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 10 other, 4 middle, 2 high, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 7,777 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Dickson County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,402 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 35.6% local, 45.5% state, and 18.9% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $60,577 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 19/100, ranked #132 of 140 in Tennessee against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 17 schools offering Advanced Placement (8 AP courses district-wide), a 412:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 32.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 74.8% White, 10.0% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% African American across the district's schools.

Dickson County High School accounts for 17.2% of all Dickson County student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Dickson County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

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

Dickson County school enrollment varies 446× across entities

Dickson County school enrollment ranges from 3 students (lowest) to 1,337 students (highest), a spread of 1,334 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

Dickson County student-counselor ratio is 412:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Dickson County chronic absenteeism rate is 32.5% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Where does the funding come from?

18.9%
Federal
45.5%
State
35.6%
Local

Funding Equity

19
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.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Dickson County county, where this district is located.

$1,507
Studio/mo
$1,578
1 BR/mo
$1,730
2 BR/mo
$2,211
3 BR/mo
$2,696
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$60,577
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 17 schools in Dickson County.

White 74.8%
Hispanic or Latino 10.0%
African American 6.8%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 7.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 17
Schools with AP
8 AP courses total
412:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
32.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Dickson County

School Enrollment
Dickson County High School
1,337
Creek Wood High School
919
Centennial Elementary
713
Stuart Burns Elementary
706
Charlotte Elementary
601
Dickson Middle School
570
Burns Middle School
494
Oakmont Elementary
482
White Bluff Elementary
479
Charlotte Middle School
433
Vanleer Elementary
269
W James Middle School
239
Dickson Elementary
229
The Discovery School
202
New Directions Academy
61
Dickson County Distance Learning Academy
40
Special Services
3

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 · $15,292/pupil
Compare vs Dickson County →
Davidson County
80,651 students · 161 schools · $17,219/pupil
Compare vs Dickson County →
Knox County
60,609 students · 93 schools · $11,040/pupil
Compare vs Dickson County →
Rutherford County
50,707 students · 51 schools · $11,822/pupil
Compare vs Dickson County →
Hamilton County
45,902 students · 81 schools · $12,591/pupil
Compare vs Dickson County →

Compare Dickson 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 Dickson County?

Dickson County has 17 schools, including 2 high, 10 other, 4 middle, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 8,129 students.

How much does Dickson County spend per student?

Dickson County spends $11,402 per student. The district has an equity score of 19/100, ranking #132 in Tennessee.

What is the average teacher salary in Dickson County?

The average teacher salary in Dickson County is $60,577 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Dickson County?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Dickson County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Dickson County?

Dickson County students are 74.8% White, 10.0% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% African American, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 17 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Dickson County?

Dickson County has an equity score of 19/100, ranking #132 out of 140 districts in Tennessee. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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