Madison 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.

Jackson, Tennessee - 25 schools

An equity score of 16/100 ranks Madison County #137 of 140 districts in Tennessee (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,363 per pupil, Madison County ranks #90 of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending (Tennessee districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

12,463
Total Enrollment
25
Schools
$10,363
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Madison County operates 25 public schools serving 12,463 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 12 combined, 6 high, 4 middle, 3 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage 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 Madison County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,363 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending. See how Tennessee compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 39.3% local, 39.1% state, and 21.6% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 16/100, ranked #137 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 25 schools offering Advanced Placement (26 AP courses district-wide), a 414.6:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 34.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 54.3% African American, 23.9% White, 13.1% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Thelma Barker Elementary, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.

Its largest campus is North Side High School, enrolling 903 students (7% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Jackson Central-Merry Early College High, at 268 students, a 3x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Madison County school enrollment varies 3.4× across entities

Madison County school enrollment ranges from 268 students (lowest) to 903 students (highest), a spread of 635 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

Madison County student-counselor ratio is 415:1 — 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

Madison County chronic absenteeism rate is 34.7% — 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?

21.6%
Federal
39.1%
State
39.3%
Local

Funding Equity

16
Equity Score
137 / 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 25 schools in Madison County.

White 23.9%
Hispanic or Latino 13.1%
African American 54.3%
Asian 1.1%
Multiracial 7.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 53.8/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Thelma Barker Elementary 68.4
  2. 2 East Elementary School 68.0
  3. 3 Denmark Elementary 67.6
  4. 4 Northeast Middle School 65.5
  5. 5 Rose Hill School 64.8

Programs & Resources

5 / 25
Schools with AP
26 AP courses total
414.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
34.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Madison County

How Madison County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Tennessee districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Putnam County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Maury County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Robertson County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Sevier County Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Hamblen County Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

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

Compare Madison 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 Madison County?

Madison County has 25 schools, including 6 high, 4 middle, 3 elementary, 12 combined. Total enrollment is 12,463 students.

How much does Madison County spend per student?

Madison County spends $10,363 per student. The district has an equity score of 16/100, ranking #137 in Tennessee.

What is the demographic composition of Madison County?

Madison County students are 54.3% African American, 23.9% White, 13.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% Asian, averaged across 25 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Madison County?

Madison County has an equity score of 16/100, ranking #137 out of 140 districts in Tennessee.