Summary:
ZIP code 37307 contains exactly one high school, Polk County High School, a public school serving grades 9 through 12 in Benton, Tennessee, with 400 students in the Polk County Schools district. The school earned a 2-star rating in 2025–2026, ranking 201st out of 400 Tennessee high schools (50th percentile). This is a drop from the prior year, when it ranked 133rd out of 389 schools (66th percentile) with a 3-star rating.
Academically, the school shows a mixed profile. In 2025–2026, proficiency was strong in US History (52.9% vs. 42.4% statewide), Biology I (49.0% vs. 49.8%), and English II (49.4% vs. 58.1%). However, Algebra I proficiency was just 14.7% compared to 32.3% statewide, and English I reached only 27.5% versus 37.3% statewide. The school outperformed its district in 6 of 7 subjects but trailed the state in 5 of 7. The graduation rate is 83.1%, below the state's 90.5%, yet the dropout rate is a low 2.2% versus 6.7% statewide. Chronic absenteeism affects 22.7% of students, above district (21.1%) and state (18.3%) levels. Per-student spending is $12,807.
Polk County High School is a bright spot within a district ranked 125th out of 141 Tennessee districts, beating the district in nearly every subject in both reported years. Its state ranking fell from the 66th to the 50th percentile despite nearly identical average proficiency around 38% both years, reflecting increased statewide competition rather than a decline in quality. The school is consistently strong in Biology I, US History, and English II, while Algebra I and English I remain major weaknesses, especially 9th-grade Algebra I at 15.9% proficiency. Upper-grade subjects like 11th-grade US History and Algebra II are stronger than 9th-grade results. Chronic absenteeism is a likely barrier to academic success. With only one school in the ZIP code, no direct school-to-school comparisons are possible.
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