Summary:
Zip code 37404 in Chattanooga is home to four elementary schools serving grades PK–5 (or K–5), all part of Hamilton County Schools, and all ranking in the bottom 13% of Tennessee elementary schools.
East Side Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking 885th in the state with the highest math proficiency (29.6%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism (5.0%) — far below the state average of 18.3%. It also spends the most per student at $21,475. Montessori Elementary at Highland Park School is the best choice for reading, with 20.5% ELA proficiency that stays consistent across grades, plus a very low 6.5% absenteeism rate; however, its math proficiency (11.0%) is the lowest in the zip code. Orchard Knob Elementary School has improved its rank from 1,009th to 985th over three years, but remains near the bottom with 15.3% math proficiency and 20.6% chronic absenteeism. Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence is the biggest concern: it ranks 1,000th of 1,019, has the lowest science scores (11.7%), the highest absenteeism (21.5%), and the lowest spending ($17,671).
East Side and Montessori keep absenteeism below 7% and hold the two highest state ranks, while Charter and Orchard Knob both exceed 20% absenteeism and sit in the bottom 3% of Tennessee — a strong sign that attendance and academics are closely linked. Science is the weakest subject across all four schools, averaging just 15.1% versus 46.9% statewide. Grade-level swings are dramatic: East Side jumps from 14.6% math in 4th grade to 47.1% in 5th, while Montessori math declines steadily from 12.5% to 9.7%. Most schools are stagnant or slipping in statewide rankings, and higher spending does not guarantee better results — Orchard Knob spends nearly as much as East Side yet ranks near the bottom of the state.
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