Best High Schools in Zip Code 37404

ZIP code 37404 is home to two high schools—Chattanooga Preparatory School and Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy—both serving grades 6–12 within Hamilton County Schools. These two schools offer distinctly different strengths for families in the area. Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy is the clear academic leader, earning a 3-star state rating and ranking 181st out of 400 Tennessee high schools (55th percentile), while Chattanooga Preparatory School ranks 368th (8th percentile, 0 stars). CGLA outperforms Prep in nearly every subject, with especially large gaps in Geometry (41.0% vs. 10.4%), English I (38.6% vs. 10.0%), and Algebra II (32.4% vs. 11.3%). CGLA’s Algebra I proficiency of 54.7% is well above both the district (36.5%) and state (32.3%), making it a genuine academic standout in this ZIP code.

On the other hand, Chattanooga Preparatory School excels at keeping students engaged and on track to graduate. Its graduation rate is 98.0%—far above the state average of 90.5%—with a dropout rate of just 2.0% and a chronic absenteeism rate of only 5.3%. Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy also posts strong completion numbers, with a 96.7% graduation rate and 7.0% chronic absenteeism. Both schools far outperform the district and state on attendance, despite the fact that their test scores are generally below state averages. Interestingly, per-pupil spending is nearly identical between the two schools ($19,907 at Prep vs. $20,255 at CGLA), so the large academic gap is not explained by funding differences.

There are a few more notable findings. At CGLA, 9th-grade Geometry proficiency is 85.7%, while 10th-grade Geometry is just 16.7%, showing that grade-level results can vary dramatically and may reflect course-taking patterns rather than overall school quality. Meanwhile, Chattanooga Preparatory School has declined steadily over three years, falling from the 21st percentile in 2023–24 to the 8th percentile in 2025–26, with proficiency drops in nearly every subject. Ultimately, families in 37404 face a classic choice: Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy offers far stronger academics and state ranking, while Chattanooga Preparatory School stands out for its exceptional graduation and attendance outcomes.