Summary:
ZIP code 37148 is home to two very different high schools within Sumner County Schools, a 4-star district ranked 33rd out of 141 in Tennessee: Portland High School, a traditional comprehensive school serving 1,151 students in grades 9–12, and Sumner County Middle Technical College High School at Portla, a tiny technical/college-themed school serving just 26 students in grades 11–12. These two schools differ dramatically in size, mission, and performance.
Portland High School is the clear academic leader in the area. Its state ranking has climbed from 192nd in 2023–2024 to 132nd in 2025–2026, placing it in the top third of Tennessee high schools. It graduates 90.6% of its students, matching the state average, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 18.5% is near the state's 18.3%. While proficiency trails the district in every subject, Portland beats the state in US History (51.8% vs. 42.4%) and nearly ties it in Biology I, Geometry, Algebra I, and English I. The small technical school, by contrast, ranks 325th out of 400 schools with a 1-star rating, and its proficiency rates in Algebra II (14.3%) and US History (25.0%) are far below district and state levels.
The most striking contrast is attendance versus academics. The small technical school has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.7%, far better than Portland High's 18.5% and the state's 18.3%, yet its academic performance is severely lacking. Portland High School, meanwhile, shows pockets of excellence: its 10th graders score 86.2% proficient in Algebra II, well above the state's 63.9%, although overall Algebra II proficiency fell sharply from 62.1% to 30.9% between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. Spending also differs notably, with Portland High investing $12,139 per student versus $8,275 at the technical school. For parents, Portland High School is the standout traditional option in ZIP code 37148, offering solid academics within a strong district, while the technical school serves a small niche population with excellent attendance but significant academic challenges.
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