Schools in Zip Code 37061

Schools in zip code 37061 serve the community of Erin, Tennessee, through three public schools in the Houston County Schools district—Erin Elementary School (PK–5), Houston County Middle School (6–8), and Houston County High School (9–12)—together educating roughly 1,041 students. All three schools are part of Houston County Schools, a district that ranks in the 6th percentile of Tennessee districts (133rd out of 141), and all face significant academic challenges compared to state averages.

Erin Elementary School stands out as the only school in the zip code with clear upward momentum. Its state ranking jumped from the 16th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 33rd percentile in 2025–2026, with math proficiency climbing from 24.1% to 39.4% and ELA from 25.3% to 37.1%. Houston County High School is the highest-ranked school in the zip code at the 32nd percentile and posts an impressive 98.8% graduation rate, well above the state's 90.5%, along with a standout 81.3% Biology I proficiency rate among 11th graders. However, it also has a 32.6% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly double the state rate—and very low math scores. Houston County Middle School is the lowest-performing school, ranking in the 23rd percentile, with math proficiency at just 17.6% compared to the state's 43%.

The disparities among the three schools are striking. Houston County High School spends the most per student at $13,526 but struggles with absenteeism and single-digit Algebra I proficiency (8.5%), suggesting that its graduation rate may not reflect true academic mastery. Houston County Middle School has the best attendance in the zip code at 14.0% chronic absenteeism, yet lags badly in math. Erin Elementary School spends the least at $11,886 per student but is closest to state averages, though its gains are uneven—3rd grade reading exceeds the state average while 4th grade reading lags far behind. For parents, the picture is mixed: Houston County Schools is a district under pressure, but Erin Elementary School's recent improvement offers hope, and the high school's strong graduation and science outcomes are genuine bright spots that sit alongside serious concerns about attendance and math preparation.