Jackson 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.

Gainesboro, Tennessee - 4 schools

An equity score of 51/100 ranks Jackson County #24 of 140 districts in Tennessee (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,789 per pupil, Jackson County ranks #70 of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending (Tennessee districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,463
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$10,789
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Jackson County operates 4 public schools serving 1,463 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Jackson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,789 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 19.9% local, 57.4% state, and 22.7% 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 51/100, ranked #24 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 347.3:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 22.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.0% White, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Jackson County High School, with a diversity index of 15.8/100.

Its largest campus is Jackson County Middle School, enrolling 411 students (30% of the district's total enrollment).

Jackson County Middle School accounts for 28.1% of all Jackson County student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Jackson County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. 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

Jackson County student-counselor ratio is 347:1 — 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 Jackson County is typically wider than the Jackson County-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Jackson County chronic absenteeism rate is 22.0% — 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 Jackson County is typically wider than the Jackson 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?

22.7%
Federal
57.4%
State
19.9%
Local

Funding Equity

51
Equity Score
24 / 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 4 schools in Jackson County.

White 93.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3.8%
Multiracial 1.8%
Other 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 13.4/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Jackson County High School 15.8
  2. 2 Jackson County Middle School 14.7
  3. 3 Gainesboro Elementary 13.7
  4. 4 Dodson Branch Elementary 9.3

Programs & Resources

347.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
22.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Jackson County

School Enrollment
Jackson County Middle School
411
Jackson County High School
383
Gainesboro Elementary
345
Dodson Branch Elementary
250

How Jackson County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Tennessee districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Oneida Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Sweetwater Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Trousdale County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Decatur County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Union City Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Jackson 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 Jackson County?

Jackson County has 4 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 high, 2 combined. Total enrollment is 1,463 students.

How much does Jackson County spend per student?

Jackson County spends $10,789 per student. The district has an equity score of 51/100, ranking #24 in Tennessee.

What is the demographic composition of Jackson County?

Jackson County students are 93.0% White, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Jackson County?

Jackson County has an equity score of 51/100, ranking #24 out of 140 districts in Tennessee.