Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 37388

Zip code 37388 in the Tullahoma, Tennessee area is home to six elementary schools serving 2,162 students in grades PK-5 across three different districts: Tullahoma City Schools, Franklin County Schools, and Coffee County Schools. This makes the area unusual — families living in the same zip code can attend schools that operate under completely different district systems, yet all are measured against the same state-level benchmarks.

Robert E Lee Elementary School is the standout, ranking 275th out of 1,019 Tennessee schools with a 4-star rating. It posts the highest proficiency in every subject — math at 54.1%, ELA at 49.8%, and science at 56.3% — all above state averages, and has the lowest chronic absenteeism in the group at just 6.5%. North Lake Elementary School is a strong second option, ranking in the 60th percentile despite its low-ranked district. Its 4th grade math and science proficiency both hit 65.6%, well above expectations. On the other end, East Lincoln Elementary School sits at the 19th percentile with the lowest scores in the area, the highest chronic absenteeism at 15.7%, and a three-year trend stuck in the bottom quarter.

Perhaps the most important takeaway is that district labels don't tell the full story. Tullahoma City Schools ranks in the 26th percentile statewide, yet contains both the strongest and weakest schools in this zip code. Similarly, Franklin County Schools ranks 23rd, but its North Lake Elementary School beats state averages in every subject. The middle of the pack — Jack T Farrar Elementary School, Bel Aire Elementary School, and Hickerson Elementary School — all fall between the 31st and 41st percentiles. Chronic absenteeism is a bright spot area-wide — every school is below the Tennessee average of 18.3%. Per-student spending varies little, ranging from $13,957 to $15,557, but the highest-spending school, Hickerson Elementary School, trails lower-spending North Lake Elementary School academically. Two patterns worth watching: Robert E Lee Elementary School's science scores jumped 17.8 points year-over-year, while Hickerson Elementary School science proficiency falls from 48.5% in 3rd grade to 23.7% by 5th grade — a 24.8-point grade-level drop.