Best High Schools in Zip Code 37363

Zip code 37363 is home to two public high schools — Ooltewah High School and East Hamilton High School — both serving grades 9–12 under Hamilton County Schools. These similarly sized schools offer a useful head-to-head comparison for parents exploring the area.

East Hamilton High School is the clear academic standout, holding a 5-star rating and ranking in the 91st–96th percentile of Tennessee high schools over the past three years. It substantially outperforms Ooltewah High School in mathematics and science, with Algebra II proficiency more than double (60% vs. 28.7%) and Biology I proficiency at 73.1% vs. 53.7%. Meanwhile, Ooltewah High School excels in graduation and dropout prevention: its graduation rate is 96.6% (vs. 91.4% at East Hamilton), and its dropout rate is 3.1% (vs. 4.3%), both better than district and state averages. This split suggests East Hamilton offers a more rigorous academic environment, while Ooltewah is particularly effective at keeping students on track to graduate.

Both schools share a notable concern: chronic absenteeism exceeds 20% at each, above the district (17.1%) and state (18.3%) rates. Subject-level data reveals additional weaknesses: US History proficiency at Ooltewah High School is just 12.5% — far below the state's 42.4% — and Algebra I is a shared weak spot for both schools, with proficiency below the state average. Interestingly, East Hamilton High School achieves better outcomes while spending about $776 less per student ($15,473 vs. $16,249). For parents, East Hamilton leads academically and is among Tennessee's best, while Ooltewah offers strong graduation outcomes and a solid, mid-tier performance — with targeted supports in history and math worth investigating.