Rutherford County

Murfreesboro, Tennessee — 50 schools

50,707
Total Enrollment
50
Schools
$11,822
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Rutherford County operates 50 public schools serving 50,707 students, placing it among the larger districts in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 25 other, 11 middle, 9 high, 5 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 51,734 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Rutherford County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,822 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 41.9% local, 45.4% state, and 12.7% 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 $65,189 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 23/100, ranked #120 of 140 in Tennessee against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 12 of 50 schools offering Advanced Placement (100 AP courses district-wide), a 468.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 13.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 48.9% White, 24.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% African American across the district's schools.

Rutherford County school enrollment varies 53× across entities

Rutherford County school enrollment ranges from 47 students (lowest) to 2,474 students (highest), a spread of 2,427 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

Rutherford County student-counselor ratio is 469:1 — 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

Rutherford County chronic absenteeism rate is 13.7% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Where does the funding come from?

12.7%
Federal
45.4%
State
41.9%
Local

Funding Equity

23
Equity Score
120 / 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 Rutherford 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

$65,189
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 50 schools in Rutherford County.

White 48.9%
Hispanic or Latino 24.1%
African American 16.8%
Asian 4.3%
Multiracial 5.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

12 / 50
Schools with AP
100 AP courses total
468.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
13.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Rutherford County

School Enrollment
Stewarts Creek High School
2,474
Blackman High School
2,301
Riverdale High School
2,275
Smyrna High School
2,266
Rockvale High School
2,126
Lavergne High School
2,116
Siegel High School
1,910
Oakland High School
1,872
Blackman Middle School
1,727
Rockvale Middle School
1,567
Oakland Middle School
1,224
Central Magnet School
1,222
Siegel Middle School
1,196
Rock Springs Elementary
1,193
Stewarts Creek Elementary School
1,173
Rock Springs Middle School
1,152
Lavergne Middle School
1,117
Christiana Middle School
1,048
Stewarts Creek Middle School
1,045
Lavergne Lake Elementary School
1,025
Eagleville School
1,013
Brown'S Chapel Elementary School
1,002
Rockvale Elementary
982
Barfield Elementary
969
Blackman Elementary School
954
Rocky Fork Elementary School
905
Smyrna Middle School
899
Rocky Fork Middle School
873
John Colemon Elementary
861
Cedar Grove Elementary
856
Stewartsboro Elementary
854
Roy L Waldron Elementary
832
Whitworth-Buchanan Middle School
755
Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts
732
David Youree Elementary
705
Plainview Elementary School
673
Wilson Elementary School
666
Christiana Elementary
659
Smyrna Elementary
646
Lascassas Elementary
630
Walter Hill Elementary
615
Smyrna Primary
562
Buchanan Elementary
475
Mcfadden School of Excellence
386
Rutherford County Virtual School
384
Kittrell Elementary
345
Homer Pittard Campus School
240
Holloway High School
122
Daniel Mckee Alternative School
63
Smyrna West Alternative School
47

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 Rutherford County →
Davidson County
80,651 students · 161 schools · $17,219/pupil
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Knox County
60,609 students · 93 schools · $11,040/pupil
Compare vs Rutherford County →
Hamilton County
45,902 students · 81 schools · $12,591/pupil
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Williamson County
42,171 students · 50 schools · $12,699/pupil
Compare vs Rutherford County →

Compare Rutherford 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 Rutherford County?

Rutherford County has 50 schools, including 9 high, 11 middle, 25 other, 5 elementary. Total enrollment is 50,707 students.

How much does Rutherford County spend per student?

Rutherford County spends $11,822 per student. The district has an equity score of 23/100, ranking #120 in Tennessee.

What is the average teacher salary in Rutherford County?

The average teacher salary in Rutherford County is $65,189 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Rutherford County?

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

What is the demographic composition of Rutherford County?

Rutherford County students are 48.9% White, 24.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% African American, 4.3% Asian, averaged across 50 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Rutherford County?

Rutherford County has an equity score of 23/100, ranking #120 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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Quarterly

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Federal

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