Best Public Schools in Zip Code 37180

Zip code 37180 (Unionville, TN) is served by three public schools in Bedford County Schools — Community Elementary School (PK–5), Community Middle School (6–8), and Community High School (9–12) — enrolling a combined 1,560 students. The district overall ranks 88th out of 141 Tennessee districts (38th percentile, 2 stars), placing it broadly below the state median, but individual schools vary significantly.

Community Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking in the 68th percentile statewide (326 of 1019) with a 3-star rating. Its math proficiency (58.9%) is nearly 16 points above the state average (43.0%), and its ELA proficiency (49.7%) also exceeds the state (40.6%). Community Middle School, by contrast, is a middle-of-the-pack school (49th percentile) with a chronic absenteeism rate of 22.5% — the highest in the area and well above both district (17.9%) and state (18.3%) averages. Community High School shows the most troubling trend, dropping sharply from the 49th to the 28th percentile in a single year. Its Algebra I proficiency is just 13.4% vs. 32.3% statewide, and U.S. History proficiency is only 14.9% vs. 42.4% statewide, even though the graduation rate (91.4%) is close to the state average (90.5%).

Several patterns stand out for parents. The transition to middle school appears difficult: elementary math proficiency of 58.9% drops to 40.0% at the middle school, while ELA falls from 49.7% to 33.7%. Yet there are isolated bright spots, such as 8th-grade math at Community Middle School (48.7% proficient, well above the state's 38.3%) and 10th-grade Algebra II at Community High School (86.7% proficient, far above the state's 63.9%). Chronic absenteeism is unevenly distributed, with the elementary school lowest (12.9%) and the middle school highest. Per-student spending is similar across all three schools ($11,491–$12,442), so funding differences do not explain the elementary school's stronger outcomes. Overall, this area offers one genuinely strong elementary school and two secondary schools where targeted attention to attendance and core academic courses could make a meaningful difference.