- Rock Springs Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 1,193 students
- Stewarts Creek Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 1,173 students
- LaVergne Lake Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 1,025 students
- Brown's Chapel Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 1,002 students
- Rockvale Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 982 students
- Barfield Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 969 students
- Blackman Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 954 students
- Rocky Fork Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 905 students
- John Colemon Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 861 students
- Cedar Grove Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 856 students
- Stewartsboro Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 854 students
- Roy L Waldron Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 832 students
- David Youree Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 705 students
- Plainview Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 673 students
- Wilson Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 666 students
- Christiana Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 659 students
- Smyrna Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 646 students
- Lascassas Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 630 students
- Walter Hill Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 615 students
- Smyrna Primary — Grades PK–5 · 562 students
- Buchanan Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 475 students
- McFadden School Of Excellence — Grades K–5 · 386 students
- Kittrell Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 345 students
- Homer Pittard Campus School — Grades K–5 · 240 students
- American Classical Academy Rutherford — Grades K–5 · 195 students
- + 1 more elementary school
- Blackman Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,727 students
- Rockvale Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,567 students
- Oakland Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,224 students
- Siegel Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,196 students
- Rock Springs Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,152 students
- LaVergne Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,117 students
- Christiana Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,048 students
- Stewarts Creek Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,045 students
- Smyrna Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 899 students
- Rocky Fork Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 873 students
- Whitworth-Buchanan Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 755 students
- Stewarts Creek High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,474 students
- Blackman High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,301 students
- Riverdale High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,275 students
- Smyrna High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,266 students
- Rockvale High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,126 students
- Lavergne High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,116 students
- Siegel High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,910 students
- Oakland High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,872 students
- Holloway High School — Grades 9–12 · 122 students
- Central Magnet School — Grades 6–12 · 1,222 students
- Eagleville School — Grades PK–12 · 1,013 students
- Thurman Francis Arts Academy/Magnet School for the Arts — Grades K–8 · 732 students
- Rutherford County Virtual School — Grades 3–12 · 384 students
- Daniel McKee Alternative School — Grades 6–12 · 63 students
- Smyrna West Alternative School — Grades 6–12 · 47 students
- Simon Springs Community School — Grades 1–8 · 20 students
with district
| Metric | Rutherford County School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 18 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $10,900/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Supervisory Union | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Rutherford County School District
Rutherford County School District is the public school district that serves ZIP 37086 in Rutherford, Tennessee. At 6/10 it lands near the middle of Tennessee districts on the data NCES reports. The district covers Pre-K – 13. Use the district statistics and boundary map above to confirm the area, then verify your exact school assignment with the district before making a housing decision.
Funding and Resources
Rutherford County School District reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $10,900 per year, placing it 9% above the Tennessee state average of approximately $10,000 and below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Below-average funding can mean larger class sizes, fewer elective offerings, and limited extracurricular programs. Families with specialized needs should verify specific program availability directly with the district. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With multiple schools, Rutherford County School District operates as a district of unknown size serving students from Pre-K – 13. Contact Rutherford County School District to learn about available programs and services.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
Rutherford County School District has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 6/10, placing it in the average tier. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Rutherford County School District falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 37086
Children in zip code 37086 are assigned to Rutherford County School District for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 13. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 37086, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Rutherford County School District at (828)288-2200 or visit www.rcsnc.org. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Tennessee districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Rutherford
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Rutherford County School District serves zip code 37086, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 37086 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Tennessee, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Rutherford County School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 37086.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Rutherford County School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 37086 data.