Who Is PCMC For?
- Rising Putnam County Public High School juniors
- Students academically prepared for full-time collegiate study
- Students interested in one of the targeted academic pathways
- Students seeking additional academic rigor and independence
Putnam County Middle College
Putnam County Schools + Vol State
Putnam County Middle College
A collaboration between Putnam County Schools and Volunteer State Community College that gives eligible students the opportunity to begin college early, experience a more independent academic environment, and work toward high school graduation while making major progress on an associate degree.
Mission Statement
The mission of Putnam County Middle College is to engage students in a supportive and innovative learning environment, inspire students as they blend high school and college experiences, and give students the opportunity to achieve future success in higher education and beyond.
Why Families Consider PCMC
- Complete most or all of an associate degree by high school graduation
- Take challenging full-time college courses each semester
- Gain a Head-start on a bachelor’s degree
- Become career-ready much sooner
- Experience more autonomy and flexible study schedules
- Stay connected to the home high school through activities and graduation
Students will be advised carefully throughout the program to ensure they meet all of the graduation requirements of Putnam County high schools. Students who successfully complete an associate degree will walk in the Vol State graduation commencement ceremony.
Eligibility
To be academically eligible, students must have a completed sophomore weighted PCSS GPA of 3.6 or higher.
To apply, students must complete the PCMC application and meet high school course completion minimums.
A screening process will be used if there are more than 25 eligible applicants.
Program Priorities
- Student readiness for college-level work
- High school graduation remains the first priority
- As much as possible, courses will be face-to-face and on campus
- High-quality advising and tutoring support
- Continued connection to each student’s associated high school
Schedule & High School Connection
- Classes on the Vol State Cookeville campus generally run Monday through Thursday
- No Friday classes, though campus spaces and the Learning Commons remain available
- Students can return to their high school for extracurricular activities and events
- Students graduate with their associated high school
Funding Information
- TSAC Middle College Scholarship: up to $2,000 per semester
- TSAC Dual Enrollment Grant supports the accelerated pre-fall semester course for first-time PCMC juniors
- Students must reapply for the scholarship each year and maintain eligibility requirements
Out-of-Pocket Costs
- Portion of tuition not covered by financial aid
- Books and course materials
- Food and daily transportation
- Miscellaneous campus-related fees or replacement costs
Academic Pathways
Students may pursue university parallel pathways designed to transfer toward a bachelor’s degree, or choose a technical path aligned to workforce entry. General Studies is also available for students seeking flexibility while working with an advisor on transfer planning.
Contact Information
Email: pcmc@volstate.edu
Program Page: Visit VolState PCMC
Partner Organizations: Putnam County Schools and Volunteer State Community College