Hardeman County Schools

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.

Bolivar, Tennessee - 9 schools

An equity score of 54/100 ranks Hardeman County Schools #16 of 140 districts in Tennessee (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,428 per pupil, Hardeman County Schools ranks #35 of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending (Tennessee districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,332
Total Enrollment
9
Schools
$11,428
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Hardeman County Schools operates 9 public schools serving 3,332 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 combined, 1 high, 1 middle 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 Hardeman County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,428 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending. See how Tennessee compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 25.2% local, 51.5% state, and 23.3% 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 54/100, ranked #16 of 140 in Tennessee against a state average of 38, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 316.1:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 24.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 50.6% African American, 42.2% White, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Middleton High School, with a diversity index of 55.4/100.

Its largest campus is Bolivar Elementary, enrolling 670 students (21% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Grand Junction Elementary, at 162 students, a 4x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Bolivar Elementary accounts for 20.1% of all Hardeman County Schools student enrollment

That concentration means Hardeman County Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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

Hardeman County Schools school enrollment varies 4.1× across entities

Hardeman County Schools school enrollment ranges from 162 students (lowest) to 670 students (highest), a spread of 508 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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

Hardeman County Schools student-counselor ratio is 316:1 — 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 Hardeman County Schools is typically wider than the Hardeman County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Hardeman County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 24.9% — 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 Hardeman County Schools is typically wider than the Hardeman County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

23.3%
Federal
51.5%
State
25.2%
Local

Funding Equity

54
Equity Score
16 / 140
State Rank
38
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 9 schools in Hardeman County Schools.

White 42.2%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
African American 50.6%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 2.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 40.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Hardeman County Schools's schools, about the same as the Tennessee average of 38.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Middleton High School 55.4
  2. 2 Central High School 47.9
  3. 3 Bolivar Middle School 45.4
  4. 4 Toone Elementary 45.1
  5. 5 Bolivar Elementary 44.6

Programs & Resources

316.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Hardeman County Schools

School Enrollment
Bolivar Elementary
670
Central High School
663
Middleton High School
410
Middleton Elementary
349
Bolivar Middle School
290
Toone Elementary
217
Whiteville Elementary
217
Hornsby Elementary
179
Grand Junction Elementary
162

How Hardeman County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Tennessee districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Hardin County Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Lauderdale County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Fayette County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Franklin Ssd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Hickman County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Hardeman County Schools'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 Hardeman County Schools →
Davidson County
80,651 students · 161 schools · $15,421/pupil
Compare vs Hardeman County Schools →
Knox County
60,609 students · 93 schools · $10,538/pupil
Compare vs Hardeman County Schools →
Rutherford County
50,707 students · 51 schools · $10,141/pupil
Compare vs Hardeman County Schools →
Hamilton County
45,902 students · 81 schools · $12,002/pupil
Compare vs Hardeman County Schools →

Compare Hardeman County Schools

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 Hardeman County Schools?

Hardeman County Schools has 9 schools, including 7 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 3,332 students.

How much does Hardeman County Schools spend per student?

Hardeman County Schools spends $11,428 per student. The district has an equity score of 54/100, ranking #16 in Tennessee.

What is the demographic composition of Hardeman County Schools?

Hardeman County Schools students are 50.6% African American, 42.2% White, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 9 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Hardeman County Schools?

Hardeman County Schools has an equity score of 54/100, ranking #16 out of 140 districts in Tennessee.