Summary:
Zip code 37178 is served by a single elementary school, Tennessee Ridge Elementary School, which enrolls 217 students in grades PK–5 as part of the Houston County Schools district.
Tennessee Ridge Elementary School is the only elementary school in this zip code, so it is automatically the standout school — but its profile is more notable for challenges than for academic excellence. The school ranks 756th out of 1,019 Tennessee elementary schools, placing it in the bottom quarter statewide. That ranking has declined over the past three years, from the 35th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 26th percentile in 2025–2026. The school’s district, Houston County Schools, ranks 133rd out of 141 districts, which adds context to the school’s struggles. In all-grade testing, the school beats its district in math (37.5% vs. 28.5%) and English language arts (33.0% vs. 29.6%), but it trails the state in every subject. Science is the biggest concern: just 31.8% of students are proficient, about 15 points below the state average. Grade-level data shows 5th grade is the relative bright spot, with ELA proficiency of 40.9% nearly matching the state average of 42.7%. However, 3rd grade ELA is a serious red flag, with only 29.6% proficiency compared to 44.9% statewide.
Chronic absenteeism is not a major factor here — the school’s rate of 18.0% is essentially the same as the state average and well below the district’s 21.8%. Per-student spending is $14,088, though without a district or state comparison it’s hard to judge if that’s above or below typical levels. Despite small year-over-year test-score improvements, the school’s state ranking keeps slipping, meaning other schools are improving faster. For parents, Tennessee Ridge Elementary is a small, tight-knit school that outperforms its local district in several areas but faces significant gaps in science and early literacy. The declining rank and weak 3rd grade reading scores suggest that early intervention and stronger science instruction should be top priorities for the school and district.
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