More Students Could Lead to New Putnam High School

An increasing Putnam County student population could lead to the creation of a new high school in the future.

PCSS Superintendent Jerry Boyd said the current rate could lead to the district searching for property in the next few years.

“Right now our growth projections are at the capacity that we have for Cookeville and the other two high schools,” Boyd said. “It does indicate it’ll be five to ten years down the road at the current rate. Now, we could experience an explosion that might accelerate this timeline.”

Boyd said property costs and growing student populations will ultimately play a factor in the district’s decision.

“Looking six to ten years down the road, right now property will never be at the cost it is now. It’ll only be more expensive,” Boyd said. “If we can identify a piece of property that we know in the future will serve our needs for a high school campus, then we certainly need to be having discussions about securing that property.”

Attendance Supervisor Chris Pierce said student populations are growing in most schools across the district.

“Some of the factors that contribute to our growth, number one, is good rapport in the community,” Pierce said. “We have a lot of families moving in who trust our schools and trust our school system. [Families] may have contact with the teachers and the principals so that’s a good thing.”

According to Pierce, schools within the district experiencing the largest amount of growth include Sycamore and Jere Whitson Elementary Schools as well as Avery Trace Middle School.