Summary:
Zip code 37397 in Whitwell, Tennessee contains three public schools within Marion County Schools that collectively serve approximately 1,060 students across grades PK–12. The district as a whole ranks in the 31st percentile statewide with a 2-star rating, yet the schools within this zip code tell a much more varied story, with one clear academic standout, one solidly improving high school, and one elementary school in need of attention.
Whitwell Middle School is the clear gem of the cluster, earning a 4-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the 78th percentile statewide. It outperforms the district by more than 20 percentage points in both math and science, and its 7th grade cohort exceeds state averages in every tested subject. Whitwell High School is also a solid performer, jumping from the 60th to the 74th percentile in a single year with a notably low 2.3% dropout rate. However, its 32.1% chronic absenteeism rate — roughly one in three students — is a serious concern. By contrast, Whitwell Elementary School is the weakest of the three, holding a 2-star rating and ranking in the 46th percentile, down from the 67th percentile just two years prior.
Several takeaways stand out for parents. First, Whitwell High School made a dramatic 22.6-point improvement in Algebra I proficiency in one year, though advanced math remains its weak spot, with Geometry and Algebra II lagging the state. Second, the elementary school's decline is most pronounced in 4th grade math, where proficiency trails the state by 13.8 points. Finally, spending per student does not align with outcomes: the lowest-spending school (Whitwell Middle at $12,504) is the top performer, while the highest-spending school (Whitwell High at $14,007) has the worst attendance. For families, Whitwell Middle offers exceptional value, while the high school's absenteeism problem and the elementary school's slide warrant close monitoring.
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