Fayette County Schools & Education
Fayette County, Tennessee
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
29/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,685
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,215
School Score
29/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 47/100
State Score Position
#87
of 95 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Fayette County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 29/100, Fayette County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.0%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,685 per pupil, Fayette County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 37% below the Tennessee average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Fayette County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
8 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
29/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #87 of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
3.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,685
$530 below the state average
School coverage
8
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Fayette County has 8 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Fayette County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Small-system county
Fayette County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#87
of 95 Tennessee counties with school score data. The county score is 18 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Fayette County Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
3,238 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Department Of Children's Services Education Division
High school only in this slice
33 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Fayette County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 7 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Fayette County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Fayette County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Fayette County, Tennessee
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Growing Rural Education Infrastructure
Fayette County operates eight public schools serving a total of 3,271 students across two districts. The system is composed of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. This compact infrastructure is designed to serve a primarily rural population with centralized academic centers.
Fayette County Public Schools Dominance
Fayette County Public Schools is the primary district, managing seven schools and 3,238 students. A much smaller specialized district under the Department of Children's Services serves 33 students in a single school. No charter schools exist in the county, ensuring that community resources are concentrated in the traditional public system.
Rural Schools with Wide Enrollment Variation
Six of the county's schools are located in rural areas, with two in small towns, creating a quiet and focused learning atmosphere. Fayette Ware Comprehensive High is the largest school with 833 students, while Southwest Elementary is the smallest with 297 students. The average school size is 409, offering students a more intimate learning environment than larger neighboring counties.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Fayette County
Reported Enrollment
3,271
8 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Fayette County
Fayette County Public Schools
Department Of Children's Services Education Division
8 Public Schools in Fayette County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School | Record | Fayette County Public Schools | Somerville, 38068Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 833 |
| Oakland Elementary | Record | Fayette County Public Schools | Oakland, 38060Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 701 |
| Buckley-Carpenter Elementary School | Record | Fayette County Public Schools | Somerville, 38068Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 514 |
| West Junior High School | Record | Fayette County Public Schools | Oakland, 38060Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 378 |
| East Jr. High School | Record | Fayette County Public Schools | Somerville, 38068Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 297 |
| Southwest Elementary | Record | Fayette County Public Schools | Macon, 38048Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 297 |
| La Grange Moscow Elementary | Record | Fayette County Public Schools | Moscow, 38057Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 218 |
| Wilder Youth Development Center | Record | Department Of Children's Services Education Division | Somerville, 38068Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 33 |
Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School
Fayette County Public Schools
Somerville, 38068 / Rural: Distant
Oakland Elementary
Fayette County Public Schools
Oakland, 38060 / Town: Distant
Buckley-Carpenter Elementary School
Fayette County Public Schools
Somerville, 38068 / Rural: Distant
West Junior High School
Fayette County Public Schools
Oakland, 38060 / Town: Distant
East Jr. High School
Fayette County Public Schools
Somerville, 38068 / Rural: Distant
Southwest Elementary
Fayette County Public Schools
Macon, 38048 / Rural: Distant
La Grange Moscow Elementary
Fayette County Public Schools
Moscow, 38057 / Rural: Distant
Wilder Youth Development Center
Department Of Children's Services Education Division
Somerville, 38068 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,685
State avg $6,215
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Fayette County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Tennessee counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Tennessee?
How should I read the school score in Fayette County?
What is the graduation rate in Fayette County?
How much does Fayette County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Fayette County, Tennessee — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Fayette County, Tennessee?
Fayette County operates eight public schools serving a total of 3,271 students across two districts. The system is composed of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. This compact infrastructure is designed to serve a primarily rural population with centralized academic centers.
What are the major school districts in Fayette County, Tennessee?
Fayette County Public Schools is the primary district, managing seven schools and 3,238 students. A much smaller specialized district under the Department of Children's Services serves 33 students in a single school. No charter schools exist in the county, ensuring that community resources are concentrated in the traditional public system.
What is the school experience like in Fayette County?
Six of the county's schools are located in rural areas, with two in small towns, creating a quiet and focused learning atmosphere. Fayette Ware Comprehensive High is the largest school with 833 students, while Southwest Elementary is the smallest with 297 students. The average school size is 409, offering students a more intimate learning environment than larger neighboring counties.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.