Wilson 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.

Lebanon, Tennessee - 24 schools

An equity score of 11/100 ranks Wilson County #139 of 140 districts in Tennessee (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,390 per pupil, Wilson County ranks #133 of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending (Tennessee districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

20,308
Total Enrollment
24
Schools
$9,390
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wilson County operates 24 public schools serving 20,308 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 12 combined, 5 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 Wilson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,390 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 15 of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending. See how Tennessee compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 43.3% local, 43.2% state, and 13.5% 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 11/100, ranked #139 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 6 of 24 schools offering Advanced Placement (113 AP courses district-wide), a 538.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 17.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 71.6% White, 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Lebanon High School, with a diversity index of 61.3/100.

Its largest campus is Lebanon High School, enrolling 1,816 students (9% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Barry Tatum Academy, at 86 students, a 21x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Wilson County school enrollment varies 21× across entities

Wilson County school enrollment ranges from 86 students (lowest) to 1,816 students (highest), a spread of 1,730 students. That spread is wider than typical and predicts noticeable gaps in service quality between the highest and lowest areas. 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

Wilson County student-counselor ratio is 538:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

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 Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

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

Wilson County chronic absenteeism rate is 17.1% — 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 Wilson County is typically wider than the Wilson 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?

13.5%
Federal
43.2%
State
43.3%
Local

Funding Equity

11
Equity Score
139 / 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 24 schools in Wilson County.

White 71.6%
Hispanic or Latino 11.2%
African American 8.1%
Asian 4.0%
Multiracial 4.5%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 45.3/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Lebanon High School 61.3
  2. 2 Rutland Elementary 60.6
  3. 3 Barry Tatum Academy 57.8
  4. 4 Springdale Elementary School 55.1
  5. 5 W a Wright Elementary 54.8

Programs & Resources

6 / 24
Schools with AP
113 AP courses total
538.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Wilson County

School Enrollment
Lebanon High School
1,816
Mt. Juliet High School
1,712
Wilson Central High School
1,686
Green Hill High School
1,606
West Wilson Middle School
1,383
Rutland Elementary
1,371
Stoner Creek Elementary
1,043
Mt. Juliet Middle School
1,002
Gladeville Middle School
991
West Elementary
849
Southside Elementary
806
Carroll Oakland Elementary
741
Springdale Elementary School
738
Gladeville Elementary
722
Mt. Juliet Elementary
648
Watertown High School
641
Watertown Elementary
602
W a Wright Elementary
538
Elzie D Patton Elementary School
461
Lakeview Elementary School
455
Tuckers Crossroads Elementary
352
Watertown Middle School
324
Barry Tatum Virtual Learning Academy
115
Barry Tatum Academy
86

How Wilson County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Tennessee districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

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

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

Compare Wilson 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 Wilson County?

Wilson County has 24 schools, including 5 high, 4 middle, 12 combined, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 20,308 students.

How much does Wilson County spend per student?

Wilson County spends $9,390 per student. The district has an equity score of 11/100, ranking #139 in Tennessee.

What is the demographic composition of Wilson County?

Wilson County students are 71.6% White, 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% African American, 4.0% Asian, averaged across 24 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wilson County?

Wilson County has an equity score of 11/100, ranking #139 out of 140 districts in Tennessee.