Schools in Zip Code 37221

ZIP code 37221 in Nashville, TN is served by three public schools in Metro Nashville Public Schools: Harpeth Valley Elementary School (PK–5), Bellevue Middle School (6–8), and James Lawson High School (9–12), together enrolling about 2,634 students. Harpeth Valley is the clear standout: it ranks in the 84th percentile statewide for elementary schools with 4 stars, and its proficiency rates in math, ELA, and science are roughly 20–30 percentage points above the district and well above state averages. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 10.2%, less than half the district's 23.3%, making it a strong community anchor.

Bellevue Middle has improved to the 60th percentile (3 stars), up from the 49th percentile last year. It beats the district in ELA and science, and its social studies proficiency (59.1%) tops both district (42.1%) and state (51.4%) averages. However, 8th-grade scores drop sharply in math (13.9%), ELA (22.9%), and science (17.0%), while 8th graders taking Integrated Math I score 67.9% — suggesting the low general math score is tied to grade-level course-taking, not the advanced track. In contrast, James Lawson High struggles academically, ranking in the 22nd percentile with 1 star. It lags the state in nearly every subject, including just 15.5% proficiency in Integrated Math I and 16.4% in US History. Its graduation rate is a bright spot at 92.8%, well above the district's 83.4%, but chronic absenteeism is 37.5% — more than double the state rate.

The most striking pattern is the K–8 versus high school gap: strong elementary and middle school performance fades once students reach James Lawson, where low test scores and high absenteeism are urgent concerns. Spending is similar across all three schools ($15,982–$16,831 per student), so outcomes vary dramatically despite comparable funding, pointing to attendance and school culture as key factors. For parents, this ZIP code offers an excellent elementary option, a solid and improving middle school, and a high school that, while graduating most students, needs significant academic support.