Best Public Schools in Zip Code 37042

Zip code 37042 in Clarksville, TN, is served by 15 schools—9 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools—all part of Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools, a district ranked 43rd out of 141 in Tennessee with a 4-star rating. Total enrollment is roughly 15,300 students, making this a large and diverse school cluster. While the district overall is solid, the schools within this zip code range widely in performance, so parents should look closely at individual schools rather than relying on the district's reputation.

Among high schools, Northwest High School stands out as the top-ranked option (64th percentile), with strong Biology, US History, and Geometry scores and a clear upward trend over three years. West Creek High School has the best graduation rate (93.1%) and the lowest dropout rate in the zip code, despite more mid-range test scores. At the elementary level, Barkers Mill Elementary School is the top overall school in the entire zip code, with strong math, science, and ELA proficiency. West Creek Middle School is the best middle school, beating its peers in every subject. On the other end, Byrns Darden Elementary School is a major concern—rated 0 stars with the lowest test scores and highest chronic absenteeism among elementary schools.

Two system-wide issues stand out. First, all three high schools have chronic absenteeism rates well above the state average (18.3%), ranging from 22.1% to 25.8%. Second, Algebra I proficiency is dramatically low—even the best high school only reaches 15.6% proficient versus 32.3% statewide—suggesting students are entering high school math behind. Notably, high per-student spending does not guarantee results; Byrns Darden Elementary School spends the most of any school here but performs worst, while top-performing Barkers Mill Elementary School spends less. Overall, this zip code offers bright spots like Northwest High, Barkers Mill, and West Creek Middle, but families should weigh school-specific data carefully, especially around attendance and math readiness.