Schools in Zip Code 37385

Zip code 37385 in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, contains 5 public schools serving grades PK-12 under the Monroe County Schools district, which ranks 122nd out of 141 Tennessee districts with a 1-star rating. The schools include Tellico Plains High School (435 students), Tellico Plains Elementary School (357), Tellico Plains Junior High School (258), Rural Vale Elementary School (217), and Coker Creek Elementary School (55), totaling 1,322 students.

Tellico Plains Elementary School stands out as the strongest academic performer in the area, ranking in the 50th percentile with 3 stars and scoring at or above state averages in math (44.2%) and ELA (45.8%). Tellico Plains High School posts a 95.4% graduation rate and a 2.8% dropout rate, both better than state averages, though its chronic absenteeism rate of 27.8% is concerning. Coker Creek Elementary School is the most at-risk school, ranking in the 4th percentile with 0 stars, with proficiency rates in math (10.6%) and ELA (17.4%) far below state averages, and a 39.3% chronic absenteeism rate — more than double the state rate. Despite receiving the highest per-student spending in the ZIP at $20,993, Coker Creek has the lowest academic outcomes, suggesting that increased spending alone isn't solving the challenges facing this small, rural school.

Middle school math and science are consistent weak points across the area, with several grades scoring dramatically below state averages. Chronic absenteeism tracks academic performance across all five schools, from the 18.1% rate at Rural Vale Elementary School and Tellico Plains Junior High School to the 39.3% at Coker Creek. Year-to-year trends show some progress, particularly at Tellico Plains Elementary, which improved significantly in math and ELA, but improvement remains uneven across subjects and schools. For parents, the picture is mixed: Tellico Plains Elementary is a clear bright spot, the high school excels at keeping students on track to graduate, but attendance issues and middle-grade math and science proficiency need urgent attention.