Summary:
ZIP code 37324, which covers Decherd, Tennessee, contains exactly one school: Decherd Elementary School, a public elementary school serving grades PK through 5 with 436 students, part of the Franklin County Schools district. Because this is the only school in the ZIP code, there are no local schools to compare it to, so the most meaningful yardsticks are the district and state averages.
Decherd Elementary is currently ranked 903rd out of 1,019 Tennessee elementary schools, placing it in the bottom 11 percent, and it has earned a 1-star rating for three straight years. Its test scores are far below state averages in every subject: math proficiency is just 15.7 percent (state 43.0 percent), English language arts is 21.7 percent (state 40.6 percent), and science is 28.3 percent (state 46.9 percent). The most alarming number is 4th grade math, where only 7.5 percent of students are proficient, a gap of nearly 42 points compared to the state average of 49.4 percent. Even within its own district, which ranks in the bottom quarter of Tennessee districts, the school is consistently below the district average in every grade and subject.
Chronic absenteeism is likely a contributing factor: 21.2 percent of students are chronically absent, higher than both the district (15.1 percent) and the state (18.3 percent). On a more positive note, science proficiency improved by 7.7 points year over year, from 20.6 percent to 28.3 percent, making science the school’s strongest subject. Math and ELA, however, declined slightly. The school spends $12,468 per student, yet the outcomes remain far below state benchmarks. For parents considering this area, the picture is clear: Decherd Elementary faces significant academic challenges, especially in mathematics and attendance, and would benefit from additional support.
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